E.U. to regulate roaming charges for text messaging

Paul Mah — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:00:06 -0400

The European Commission will announce new legislation that is proposed to reduce tariffs that users have to pay when sending or receiving text messages when roaming. A report in January pegged the average rate that users have to pay for text messages in the third quarter of last year to be $0.50. The decision to reduce the roaming costs of text messages comes one year after price caps for voice roaming were introduced. That earlier move benefited consumers as it resulted in lower tariffs of 60 percent across the E.U. No price cap has been decided on for text messages at the moment.

For more on the story:
- check out this article from New York Times

Nokia acquisition of NAVTEQ cleared by EU

Paul Mah — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:32:55 -0400

The European Commission has OKed Nokia's proposed $8.1 billion acquisition of digital map maker NAVTEQ. In a written statement, an EU executive said, "The commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area, or any substantial part of it."

As Nokia looks for new sources of revenue from the maturing mobile phone industry, the NAVTEQ acquisition will give it a stronghold in the navigation business, considered to be one of the fastest-growing segments in the technology industry. With the EU approval under its belt, Nokia expects the deal to be closed within the "next five business days."

For more on Nokia's acquisition:
- check out this Guardian article