NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, April 05, 2012 (Press-News.org) ACMA, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, has demanded that all the country's telecoms providers must clarify their use of industry terms to help subscribers enjoy greater peace of mind and fairness. The regulator is focusing on terms like 'cap' and 'unlimited plans' as it seeks to drive through greater equality and clearness for consumers.
ACMA wants providers to commit to making subscribers' lives easier by signing up to a voluntary code of conduct which sees all operators pledge to remove misleading terms from contracts and advertising.
'Unlimited Plans'
Many consumers find themselves confused by quite what 'Unlimited plans' means in mobile contract terms, so ACMA wants to put this right.
The regulator is asking Australian operators to remove the expression from its plans since subscribers are often finding themselves paying more than they thought they should. The term is losing popularity with providers as demonstrated by Vodafone and Amaysim, which have removed 'Infinite' from plans and included 1300 and 1800 numbers in Unlimited plans respectively.
Sarah McDonald, spokesperson for Compare Mobile Plans, commented: "It's great to see ACMA taking such a progressive step as this, as it will both clear up the industry in general and also give subscribers a fairer deal. 'Unlimited' plans really do seem to confuse Australian subscribers."
Cap and Included Value
Another term high on the list for change at ACMA is 'Cap', an expression which often leaves consumers confused as to exactly how much they must pay and where limits lie. The regulator wants companies to stop using the expression where there is no clearly-defined limit to spending on a contract.
Further to this, ACMA is asking operators to issue price lists of what a consumer genuinely pays per unit - the body wants operators to offer standard unit fees for two-minute voice calls, texts and for 1MB of data usage.
Flagfall
Flagfall is a term unique to the Australian market in the modern telecoms era, and one which regularly leaves non-native Australians confused when they see additional charges for it on their bills.
"With Flagfall being an outdated term to most countries' consumers, ACMA calling time on its use in Australia is a good step," Sarah McDonald continues.
Relatively new Australian provider Amaysim has recently removed the flagfall issue from its pricing plans by introducing no contract SIM-only contracts with flagfall taken out of them.
Included data
Australia now has a smartphone penetration level of 37 percent, high enough for ACMA to call on providers to clear up quite what the term means to end-users.
"Included data contains a few grey areas too, and we're pleased to see ACMA calling for greater clarity here as well," Sarah McDonald goes on. "Consumers need clarity on quite what they get for their money, while another area of concern is pricey roaming charges which service providers are rarely clear about either."
Comparing mobile plans
Users can log on to Compare Mobile Plans and browse all the latest deals and contracts from all the suppliers in the sector, including Telstra, iPrimus, Bigpond, TPG, Internode, Club Telco and more. The site lets people use a simple calculator to source the best contract for them and also features reviews of the latest handsets around.
About Compare Mobile Plans
Compare Mobile Plans is a free, independent comparison website for consumers looking for a mobile phone plan in Australia.
For further enquiries please contact;
Scott Kennedy, CEO, www.CompareMobilePlans.com.au
E: s.kennedy@comparebroadband.com.au
T: 1300 850 518
Industry Regulator ACMA Warns Australian Comms Providers to Clarify Telecoms Buzzwords
ACMA, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, has demanded that all the country's telecoms providers must clarify their use of industry terms to help subscribers enjoy greater peace of mind and fairness
2012-04-05
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Deaf children's gesture mismatches provide clues to learning moments
2012-04-05
In a discovery that could help instructors better teach deaf children, a team of University of Chicago researchers has found that a gesture-sign mismatch made while explaining a math problem suggests that a deaf child is experiencing a teachable moment.
Through a series of experiments with 40 deaf children, ages nine through 12, all of whom were fluent in American Sign Language, researchers were able to distinguish between ASL signs and gestures that look like the gestures hearing children produce when explaining the same math problems.
The deaf students who expressed ...
Ex-Spouse Missing Payments? You Might be Held Responsible
2012-04-05
Going through a divorce can be an extremely difficult time. The decision to finally end a marriage and move on usually comes after a lot of soul-searching. It is not easy to walk away from someone who has been such a major part of your life. The entire process can be a long, drawn-out affair that can be emotionally draining, and it may be tempting to try to get the divorce over as soon as possible to move on.
However, most people do not realize the severe economic challenges that may arise as a result of the divorce until it is too late. Whether it is a house, car or ...
Physicians less likely to prescribe antidepressants to minorities, Medicaid patients
2012-04-05
ANN ARBOR, Mich.--- African-Americans and Hispanics with major depressive disorder are less likely to get antidepressants than Caucasian patients, and Medicare and Medicaid patients are less likely to get the newest generation of antidepressants.
Researchers from the University of Michigan School of Public Health examined data from 1993 to 2007 to try to understand the antidepressant prescribing patterns of physicians. They looked at two things: who received antidepressants, and what type of antidepressant was prescribed.
They found that race, payment source, physician ...
Tiny hitchhikers attack cancer cells
2012-04-05
Nanotechnology offers powerful new possibilities for targeted cancer therapies, but the design challenges are many. Northwestern University scientists now are the first to develop a simple but specialized nanoparticle that can deliver a drug directly to a cancer cell's nucleus -- an important feature for effective treatment.
They also are the first to directly image at nanoscale dimensions how nanoparticles interact with a cancer cell's nucleus.
"Our drug-loaded gold nanostars are tiny hitchhikers," said Teri W. Odom, who led the study of human cervical and ovarian ...
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute marks breakthrough in IOP regulation in fight against glaucoma
2012-04-05
Miami… A six-year collaboration between two faculty members of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has yielded new insight regarding the regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma - an irreversible blinding disease that causes progressive visual impairment due to optic nerve damage and is the leading cause of blindness worldwide.
The key finding by associate professors of ophthalmology Richard K. Lee, M.D., Ph.D. and Sanjoy Bhattacharya, M. Tech., Ph, D. validates their hypothesis that the response of aqueous humor ...
Spike in Teenage Deaths Has North Carolina Groups Ready for Action
2012-04-05
One of the defining moments for teenagers in the U.S. is earning a driver's license, which equates to gaining some independence from parental supervision. This defining moment can quickly turn devastating, however, due to various factors like disobeying traffic laws and distracted driving. There has been an alarming spike recently in the number of teenagers who die in car accidents each year across the nation. Particularly in North Carolina, the rate of teenage driver deaths is on the rise, so safety groups in the state are ready for action.
Spike in Deaths
According ...
New lab mice cut search for genetic links to disease by more than a decade
2012-04-05
With a 95 percent genomic similarity to humans, mice have long been used to learn about the genetic causes of human disease. Once researchers can shine a light on the genetic factors that cause disease in mice, they can start to develop prevention and treatment options to protect the human population.
But this process, called genetic mapping, is a long and difficult road, made more challenging by the 5% difference between the humans and lab mice. Now Prof. Fuad Iraqi of Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine is closing the gap with an international project ...
Dangerous blood pressure medicine
2012-04-05
Despite the fact that nifedipine increases the risk of heart attacks and death, doctors still prescribe this immediate-release blood pressure drug to elderly patients. The Cologne-based research group led by Ingrid Schubert has now published the results of their investigation in the current issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2012; 109[12]: 215-9).
Immediate-release nifedipine is classified as a potentially dangerous drug in the PRISCUS list published in 2010. Earlier studies demonstrated that, in comparison to other antihypertensive drugs, ...
Expungement of Criminal Records in New Jersey
2012-04-05
If you have been arrested or convicted of a crime in New Jersey, you may simply want to move on with life without a criminal record haunting you in the future. It is true in many respects that decisions made earlier in life are not reliable indicators of future behavior. Unfortunately, many people still see trouble in a criminal record. Certain employers may choose to pass you by, rental agencies may disqualify you and military recruiters can be particularly sensitive about criminal records. In an effort to promote ex-offender re-entry back into the community, the law allows ...
In children born with severe heart defect, surgical management has little effect on neuro outcomes
2012-04-05
In the largest multicenter clinical trial of children undergoing early-stage surgery for single-ventricle heart defects, differences in intraoperative management did not significantly affect neurodevelopmental outcomes at 14 months of age. Instead, the strongest influences were innate patient characteristics and general medical morbidity during the child's first year of life.
Children born with hypoplastic left-heart syndrome (HLHS) and related single-ventricle defects have long been known to be vulnerable to developmental impairments, and researchers suspected that ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Some patients may experience durable disease control even after discontinuing immune checkpoint inhibitors for side effects
Native American names extend the earthquake history of northeastern North America
Lake deposits reveal directional shaking during devastating 1976 Guatemala earthquake
How wide are faults?
Key enzyme in lipid metabolism linked to immune system aging
Improved smoking cessation support needed for surgery patients across Europe
Study finds women much more likely to be aware of and have good understanding of obesity drugs
Study details role of protein that may play a key role in the development of schizophrenia
Americans don’t think bird flu is a threat, study suggests
New CDC report shows increase in autism in 2022 with notable shifts in race, ethnicity, and sex
Modulating the brain’s immune system may curb damage in Alzheimer’s
Laurie Manjikian named vice president of rehabilitation services and outpatient operations at Hebrew SeniorLife
Nonalcoholic beer yeasts evaluated for fermentation activity, flavor profiles
Millions could lose no-cost preventive services if SCOTUS upholds ruling
Research spotlight: Deer hunting season linked to rise in non-hunting firearm incidents
Rice scientists uncover quantum surprise: Matter mediates ultrastrong coupling between light particles
Integrative approach reveals promising candidates for Alzheimer’s disease risk factors or targets for therapeutic intervention
A wearable smart insole can track how you walk, run and stand
Research expands options for more sustainable soybean production
Global innovation takes center stage at Rice as undergraduate teams tackle health inequities
NIST's curved neutron beams could deliver benefits straight to industry
Finding friendship at first whiff: Scent plays role in platonic potential
Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers releases 2025 expert panel document on best practices in MS management
A cool fix for hot chips: Advanced thermal management technology for electronic devices
Does your brain know you want to move before you know it yourself?
Bluetooth-based technology could help older adults stay independent
Breaking the American climate silence
Groundbreaking study uncovers how our brain learns
Sugar-mimicking molecule central to virulence of a common crop disease, study finds
Surprise: Synapses on single neurons follow distinct rules during learning
[Press-News.org] Industry Regulator ACMA Warns Australian Comms Providers to Clarify Telecoms BuzzwordsACMA, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, has demanded that all the country's telecoms providers must clarify their use of industry terms to help subscribers enjoy greater peace of mind and fairness