[Editorial] Make Mobile Data Access Costs Transparent

They say that customers have not been clearly informed of the charges for wireless internet use via mobile phone. Downloading a new ring tone costs W1,000, but downloading data costs W2,400, so you find yourself surprised, and few customers know exactly how it works because mobile phone companies have failed to accurately inform them of the costs. Reportedly there is an increase on disputes of the charges as a result.

With all the controversy, the Korea Communications Commission finally issued a directive ordering companies to clearly state what the charges are. Companies are not happy about that, and say that people "might not access online content because they will be given the impression it is too expensive." That position essentially admits that in order to promote usage they have tried to make it look less expensive than it really is. The approach to business that says nothing else matters as long as you bring in profits and without regard to what happens to the customer does not work anymore. Government officials will have to engage in supervisory activity to make sure companies do not just go through the motions.

The way "mobile phone wireless internet" is used also needs to be changed for the better. Companies make phone menus extra complicated just to inflate the data-use charges, so it is more than your average trickery against consumers. Perhaps they failed to think about the fact that it is hard to increase your customer base when you make things hard to use. They need to remember how there are a lot of people who would like to be able to do wireless internet from their phones but can't because it is too complicated. When things are easy for people to use it works to the advantage of both customers and providers.

The country will soon see DMB available on mobile phones. It needs to be made with users in mind, so that everyone can use it without difficulty. These are times when the disparity in digitial information use between classes and regions is becoming a social problem, and that makes the issue all the more important.

The Hankyoreh, 30 November 2005.

[Translations by Seoul Selection]