A nice alternative meaning to the acronym GSM is given at the UK launch of the Swedish company Rebtel ('the mobile Skype') which has a wheeze for using your domestic mobile credits, which come as part of your monthly package, to pay for international calls at domestic rates.
Get Screwed Monthly should be the meaning of GSM, according to Rebtel, which is seeking to kill off the iniquitous roaming charge system whereby you get screwed for making a mobile call while abroad, and screwed again for receiving one.
It's a charging system which has fallen foul of the EC which would proceed with outlawing the practice if it weren't for our pathetically supine DTI which, doubtless under pressure from our domestic wireless operators, is holding out against EC intervention.
In so far as Rebtel is seeking to kill off roaming charges, good luck. But, so far as the mechanism for making a Rebtel phone call goes, it all seems a highly complicated and inconvenient process.
Hopefully, Rebtel will find ways to refine its processes. It deserves to succeed. And if Rebtel doesn't turn out to be the roaming charge killer, at least it is pioneering the way for others to follow.
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