International transport operators will be waiting with more than usual attention for July's mobile phone bills, which should be the first to reflect reduced roaming charges demanded by the European Commission.

The new rules reduce the maximum charges for various commonly-used services. Sending a text message between EU countries will cost a maximum 0.11 euros – just over a third of the previous EU average of 0.28 euros.

The price for placing a voice call is capped at 0.43 euros a minute, and of receiving on at 0.19 euros. Outgoing roaming calls will be charged by the second after the first 30 seconds (instead of by the minute), and incoming calls will be charged by the second from the first second.

Data prices have also been capped at 1 euro per megabyte downloaded.

 

The rules are contained in the EU Roaming Regulation 2009 (IP/09/620), which replaces one from 2007 and will run until 2012.