vB Easy Archive - What is Line Rental

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What is Line Rental
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Posted by: VOLVORacr

I am in the US so I can claim ignorance. :rolleyes2
Just curious what is a line rental associated with cellular in Europe.

Thanks

Posted by: TriBand81

This is an elegant way of describing a monthly contract in Europe.

Posted by: VOLVORacr

Thanks for the reply,

If it means you have a contract, why on the Vodafone.uk site does the plan descriptions say 18 month contact and 6 1/2 month line rental.

Just curious, thanks again.

Posted by: TriBand81

Here you go:

http://www.mobileshop.org/buyguide/costs.htm
http://www.ukphoneshop.com/terms.asp
http://www.getonlinebroadband.com/faqs/faq27.html
http://global.mci.com/uk/voice/linerental/
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/con...ction5/#content

Line rental is a concept associated only with monthly contracts. From what I can deduce the line rental is the cost incurred for making a phone number and an associated line available to a customer.

Posted by: josepho

You'd think that "line rental" would be a small charge for the number and the cost associated with keeping you connected. However, in the UK, "line rental" has come to mean that monthly charge that you pay for however many minutes, text messages, etc. that you get included.

Looking at O2's tariff, for example:
O2 25: 25 X-Net mins, 25 text messages/month: £16 line rental
O2 Max: 1000 X-Net mins, 50 text messages/month: £75 line rental

I'm trying to think what the American term would be... I guess just "monthly charge". Why it's called "line rental" in the UK, I'm not quite sure, but that's it.

Any more questions, go for it!

Posted by: TriBand81

Yeah that sounds more on target

Posted by: VOLVORacr

Ok, I see. From the Vodafone site it says 6 month, 1/2 price line rental. I was thinking 18 month contract + 6 1/2 month line rental. Makes more sense when you read it the right way.

Posted by: stewface

You shouldn't be looking over our side of the pond, as the grass always looks greener (except when you looking to the US!).