A bid to scrap all mobile phone “roaming” charges by 2014 was defeated today, as a war of words broke out between the European Commission and Vodafone over a continued crackdown on the sector.

The European Commission has announced a major crackdown on "outrageous" charges for using the internet when travelling in the EU.

MORE cuts in mobile phone roaming charges apply today — with the European Commission intent on closing the gap between domestic and foreign call rates to “almost zero” by 2015.

BUSINESSES with branches in different EU member states could have the same telephone number for customer support under a suggestion floated by the European Commission.

FOUR out of 10 young Irish people who use the internet report symptoms of a mild form of addiction – a much higher number than in most other European countries.