Mobile broadband downloads 'cost couple £11,000'

While some technology experts have been singing the praises of mobile broadband recently, a potential drawback of roaming connectivity have been highlighted by the case of a UK couple who were charged £11,000 for four downloads of the US comedy Friends.

Thinkbroadband reports that the one half of the couple started downloading the shows via her husband's broadband-enabled mobile phone while she was in the UK. However, the transfer of the files did not complete before they left for Germany and as a result, the rest of the download was carried out on a continental network.

The site says the episode should act as a reminder to anyone with a mobile data connection to make sure that any large downloads are suspended or cancelled before they go abroad.

It adds that this can be tricky for consumers as so much software included on mobile devices will automatically access its broadband connection to check for updates.

According to the news service, the European Union's commissioner for information, society and media Viviane Reding is calling on mobile providers to cut the costs of data transfer while roaming.

A recent study by Top 10 Broadband reported by Computer Shopper predicted that mobile broadband will overtake fixed-line services by 2010.

Posted on: 2008-03-03, in: Broadband

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