Just in time for summer vacations, the EU has made it cheaper for individuals to go mobile while traveling in Europe. A new EU regulation places a cap on the maximum charge for downloading data from the Internet when using a mobile connection, most commonly known as data roaming. eBay has been a long-time supporter of a mobile economy, which would empower both consumers and sellers, and the new regulation is a step in the right direction. eBay is currently one of the industry leaders in creating solutions that bolster mobile commerce. The eBay mobile app has been downloaded more than 50 million times in 8 languages and 190 countries around the world. One item is purchased every second through the app.

As of July 1, 2012, mobile users will benefit from a new maximum price of 70 cents (plus VAT) per Megabyte to download data or browse the Internet while traveling abroad. This cuts prices around six times, down from more than €4 per Megabyte charged by many operators in July 2009. In the next several years, prices will be cut further.

"Price caps on data mean we have roaming for the smart phone generation,” said European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes in a press release. “This ends the roaming rip-offs once and for all in the EU. I am delighted that year after year the European Union is putting money back in the pockets of citizens.”