And to save even more money, the EU is harmonising mobile phone roaming tariffs, so instead of paying well over a €1a minute to call your mates to gloat about the good weather, it will only cost you 43 cents (before VAT) from this summer on.
For Irish people it means that to make a call on your mobile when abroad in the EU will cost 43c per minute (before VAT) and receiving a call will cost 19c per minute (before VAT). And the further good news is that the EU hopes to cut these charges in a third harmonisation round, to 35c per minute (before VAT) to make a call and 11c per minute (before VAT) to receive a call, from 2011. Texting when roaming will be cheaper too. From 1 July 2009, it will cost no more that 11c (before VAT) to send a text when you are in another EU country and it will be free to receive a text message.