As hapless man charged $1800

Few, beyond the mentally ill, would argue with the minister's observations that transtasman roaming rates are ridiculously expensive, and that phone companies often don't do enough to publicise them, or explain them in words that your average traveller will understand.

Mr Joyce said he expected to discuss romaing when he meant with his in contrast number, Senator Stephen Conroy, in Hobart at this month for the Kanz broadband summit.

So, don't hold your breath, however hopefully you won't be charged between $5 and $30 a megabyte for much longer. Nor will you have to buy a local SIM card or faff aroud with mobile VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). As Mr Brislen noted, his mobile at home is charged at $1/10MB or 1c/MB.

And once that deal is sealed, how about a nosey at Air New Zealand's joke in-flight broadband pricing?

as a "bill shock" sufferer I can relate - I queried a $700 bill for an afternoons data in Sydney - all things considered after numerous months in discussion/Dispute I got the credit. I was very surprised by their lack of ability to verify what the charge was exactly for - my computer data records didnt match what the local supplier had oncharged Voda ... I wonder how many people get massively overcharged