Their international roaming prices really are highway robbery, aren't they?

No, it's not "highway robbery" - because no force is involved. Roaming rates are price-pointed amounts agreed to by the parties involved. If it costs more than you want to pay, don't buy any. Econ 101.

It's called <i>laissez-faire</i> capitalism, and it's the system we defended against all comers for 60 years.

...good point but forewarned is forewarned and the asininely high roaming rates European carriers have been getting away with for a while prompted the eu to do something...won't help North Americans or Australians travelling in Europe of course.

So has anyone used United Mobile or one of those &quot;universal&quot; SIMS so that you don't accumulate SIMS for every country?

More costlier but more convenient since it's one number regardless of where you are?

But it sounds like the costs are much higher, like almost around the 99 cents per minute international roaming costs for TMobile?

Anyone try using VOIP on the smart phone instead? Then again, are data costs any better than the voice costs?