An interesting caveat of seamless roaming between GPRS and WLAN roaming=20=
is that a user may be surfing the net in good faith that they are on a=20=
cheap tariff and don't need to worry about the time they spend online=20
(ie. while on the WLAN), but in fact the device has switched over to a=20=
more expensive service (ie. GPRS).
This would increase risk and cost for the mobile phone company because=20=
it will trigger complaints from customers and may result in unpaid bills=20=
and bad debt.
An example for this kind of roaming confusion can be observed at the=20
Russo-Finish border, although there it is ordinary GSM roaming ...
from http://www.cellular-news.com/cgi-
bin/database/country.cgi?term1=3Dfinland
Russian network leaks into Finland=A0=A0(27-Mar-02)
The Finnish cellular networks, Sonera and Radiolinja have both=20
complained to the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA)=20=
about interference from the Russian network, MTS who's signals are=20
apparently leaking across the Russia/Finland border. Residents in the=20
southeastern town of Vainikkala have been able to pick up signals from=20=
MTS, which operates a GSM network in the St. Petersburg area on the=20
other side of the border.
If a Finnish customers handset accidentally logs onto the Russian=20
network, then all their calls will be treated as if they had originated=20=
in Russia, and incoming calls would be subject to a roaming charge.=20
Normally though, if a customer can show that they are in Finland when=20
the call is made, then the networks will refund the call charges. FICORA=20=
plans to inspect the signal strengths in the area and if MTS is found to=20=
be leaking across the border, then it will make a complaint to the=20
Russian authority to reduce MTS's transmitter power.
Received on Sun Jun 9 18:48:41 2002