The lack of transparency in mobile call charges makes choosing a tariff option a difficult task according to the Consumers' Association of Ireland (CAI).

The August issue of CAI's Consumer Choice magazine said "each of the three operators - Eircell, Esat Digifone and Imag!ne - present charges in different ways, leading to confusion for consumers seeking the best deal". The fourth mobile phone operator, Meteor, is expected to introduce services before Christmas and the consumers' group looks forward to seeing its effect on prices.