In the past, bank names adorned commercial buildings around the world. On this trip to E. Europe, I noticed a bunch of Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile buildings. Business is good.
Not surprisingly while visiting with Epam folks - with offices in US, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and elsewhere, the topic of mobile roaming charges came up. Mobile phones flew open and out came multiple SIM cards. There was even talk of how it would be nice to have multiple SIM slots on one phone. I had a Nokia a few years ago which allowed me to switch numbers - one for local, one for US long-distance calls. I could have used one on this trip. Cingular wanted $ 3.49 a minute in Romania (plus tax), and a bargain 99c a minute elsewhere on the trip. And they already charge $ 5 a month in international roaming base fee.
My preferred solution on international trips is to get on wi-fi and use Skype. But that was another challenge. I looked at re-signing with the T-Mobile Hotspot service. They wanted $ 39.95 a month plus 18c a minute roaming in various European cities. Boingo wanted $ 21.95 a month, with second month free. And 12c a minute roaming. Boingo it was. Worked fine except in Romania. Marriott wanted $ 35 a night. Skipped that. Boingo also did not work for some reason in Vienna. I broke down and paid Hilton $ 22 for the night. After that Skype was 2c a minute for most calls.
The gravy train is about to end as the EU caps roaming fees. I have a feeling on US price plans we will not see the reduction right away.
Of course, it would be so much nicer if all these countries emulate their neighbor Macedonia. The entire country is one big hotspot.
Oh, let's not forget the "old" banks. For an ATM withdrawal in Hungary, BofA charged me 4.5%. I chafed till I converted those Hungarian forints in to Romanian new leus and the day after converted those into euros. Lost 33% in less than a day to the airport bank. Glad to help pay for the building signs -)
There is where even Macedonia does not have a solution. Yes, that would come with membership in EU and acceptance of euros instead of the current Denars. But that may be a while coming.
The First Marriott Bank of Orange. Welcome to the changing global banking/telco/hospitality landscape. As a traveling businessman, one way or the other be prepared to be nickeled and eurocented. Make that many, many nickels.
