By Stefanie Nowak
Besides the Christmas period, the summer holidays must be one of the most profitable times for mobile phone operators. School’s out, day trips a plenty, and holidaymakers are packing their bags for far flung exotic destinations. The European holiday mentality means big business for the networks – and not just in terms of call charges, as nowadays we’re also talking data.
But how did we all cope with keeping in touch with those back home before the digital revolution? Simple. People sent ordinary, old fashioned postcards which might – depending on the destination – even arrive on the recipient’s doorstep before the sender made it home. It was all part of the holiday experience.
Now with the increased uptake of Wi-Fi and standard adoption of mobile devices like the iPhone, traditional holiday-maker behaviour has changed dramatically. While travellers are sightseeing and sunning themselves abroad, they’re also shouting (or should that be tweeting?) about what a great time they’re having via social networking apps.
Call me old fashioned, but when I go on holiday, I usually enjoy the freedom of not being available anytime, any place over my mobile or email account. Not to mention avoiding the extortionate costs associated with call charges, roaming fees and data packages while abroad – particularly in those exotic locations. By the time you’ve tweeted about the delayed flight and the pool-side cocktail bar, followed by a review of the hotel on Trip Advisor, you’ve more than likely exceeded your usual monthly bill. Would you really spend the same amount of money on stamps for postcards? Unlikely.
And it’s not just the cost issue – it also takes forever to grasp the different rates charged by each operator for different countries, different continents, and the difference between EU and Non-EU countries. Not exactly the stress-free time your brain was hoping for on vacation.
I better stick to old-fashioned postcards while I’m travelling!
Comments