Truphone challenges Vodafone to extend its roaming charge holiday

Gesture politics

Welcome to our world, says Truphone's CEO, in an exclusive interview with Mobileb2b

Truphone has welcomed the move by the world’s largest mobile operator to cut its roaming charges and international call charges for customers. Which is odd because surely that takes away any argument for their products and services, such as SIM4Travel, which are designed to undercut the big, exploitative carriers.

One of the Arts of War, as written by the ancient Chinese warrior, is to never stop your enemy making a mistake. Logically, you would be disappointed when they do stop. But Truphone CEO Geraldine Wilson explains why Truphone is happy that Vodafone has droped its roaming charges.

“These calls have been too high for too long and it’s great that Vodafone has recognised that these charges are unsustainable,” she says.
Why? Surely, if customers are being ripped off by a carrier, they’re more likely to buy a SIm card from SIM4Travel, and add to Truphone’s profits. Surely that’s what you want isn’t it?
Yes, But. “It is disappointing that this is a short term offer for consumers over the summer months, and that it only provides a welcome, but temporary discount for consumers over the holiday season, but fails to address the long term needs of business users all year round,” says Wilson.
Ah, I get it now. Vodafone will make people aware they’re being ripped off, so they’re more likely to tunr to Truphone/SIM4Travel in the rest of the year. Is that it?
“Truphone and SIM4travel will continue to provide permanent low-cost calling solutions for international calling and roaming for users of all networks (O2, Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile and 3) day in, day out, not just for the next 3 months,” she said.

Here’s what SIM4travel offers roamers:
•    Free to receive calls in most major destinations
•    Great rates to call internationally
•    Complete flexibility with no contracts or long-term tie-ins

•    Free Truphone-to-Truphone calls to & from Wi-Fi hotspots anywhere in the world
•    Free Truphone-to-Skype calls to & from Wi-Fi hotspots anywhere in the world
•    Free Truphone-to-Google Talk calls to & from Wi-Fi hotspots anywhere in the world
•    Low cost international calls, including 3.5p per minute or less for landline and mobile calls to China, US, Canada, Hong Kong, India from Wi-Fi hotspots whilst at home or away anywhere in the world or for the cost of a local call when in your home country using Truphone Anywhere on appropriate handsets