Cellcos to shine (some) light on data roaming

Finally. Mobile operators concede that just maybe consumers aren't getting a fair deal out of data roaming.

No, they're not going to cut their charges (!). But in a major departure, they are going to tell you what they are.

The EU has capped data roaming charges since 2010, but with soaring mobile web use thousands more unsuspecting users have become the victims of what is surely the world's most lucrative legal scam.

Following an agreement in Shanghai, 24 GSMA operators and operator groups have committed to:

• Sending text messages to remind customers of their data roaming tariffs when they arrive in another country and turn on their mobile device;
• Implementing a monthly data roaming spending limit to help consumers manage their roaming bill and sending alerts when their data usage approaches the limit; and
• Temporarily suspending data service when usage exceeds the spending limit.

The full list of operators is below. For what it's worth, among the Asian operators who have not signed up are the SingTel Group, Telstra, NTT DoCoMo, and anyone from Taiwan or New Zealand.

GSMA says the new measures will be implemented by the end of the year, and it then aims to persuade all of its 800 members to adopt them. The association will develop a 'trust mark' to enable consumers to recognise those who are compliant.

The 24 signatories are: América Móvil, AT&T, Axiata Group Berhad, Bharti Airtel, China Mobile, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom-Orange, Hutchison 3 Group, KT Corporation, MTS, Qtel, SK Telecom, Smart Communications, SoftBank Mobile, Tata Teleservices, Telecom Italia Group, Telefónica, Telekom Austria Group, Telenor Group, TeliaSonera, Verizon Communications, VimpelCom and Vodafone Group