EU defines high-end smartphones as eligible for high-end taxation

18 Dec, 2008
The European Commission is considering taxes on some mobile phones equipped with GPS and/or TV receivers. The idea is for fat-on-features handsets to be treated as multifunctional devices rather...

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  • W
  • Whatevs
  • PEx
  • 19 Dec 2008

Say what?! This is so preposterous. First: they are just looking for holes to tax something that's never been taxed some twelve years ago, quote that. Second: they cannot say they are to tax these devices because they have already gone beyond the mere purpose of the mobile phone like having GPS, TV and QWERTY whatnot because they are still mobile phones anyways - - - only having the innovated services as such. Why? Because what did the consumer buy in the first place? A mobile phone, right? Only it has added features. And this is the new millenium, for crying out loud, technology evolves. This shouldn't be approved, really.

    • R
    • Ras
    • 0Ua
    • 19 Dec 2008

    If you want to know why this is happening, just watch Zeitgeist movies 1 and 2

      • N
      • Nigredo
      • nTd
      • 19 Dec 2008

      hahaha, i cant believe this! Come on ppl - bring out your classy RAZR and show that you can live without this high end ;) next thing will be a tax for air or breathing...

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • TIE
        • 19 Dec 2008

        this is unfair!

          • b
          • brynn
          • nGv
          • 19 Dec 2008

          We will get taxed on our tax eventually.so the more tax we pay the more tax we pay on top of that tax..Cannot be long off now for they tax us for breathing and speaking,also the longer your hair and fingernails are the more tax you pay..after straight bananas and cucumbers what other stupid things can eu invent the stupid dollops

            • B
            • Bakhti
            • qKI
            • 19 Dec 2008

            Right -- taxes is what we need when there's a financial crisis ravaging the world. That will sure improve consumer confidence... EU is shooting itself in its feet, well done, fells, well done...

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • P}v
              • 19 Dec 2008

              Anonymous, 19 Dec 2008We also have to pay patent layalty of each technology such ... moresorry. patent royalty.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • P}v
                • 19 Dec 2008

                We also have to pay patent layalty of each technology such as WCDMA, DVB, WIFI and GPS etc.. In addtional, we have to pay high tax to government. Good, good~ Anything else?

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • M@T
                  • 19 Dec 2008

                  -_-'

                    • H
                    • Hongdolaxi
                    • pKx
                    • 19 Dec 2008

                    This is a typical Western Government, shame on them.

                      • E
                      • EU ******
                      • 3CH
                      • 19 Dec 2008

                      lol, going backwords.... Thats great make a call in public and the Feds get all over your a$$ an be all like Sir did you pay tax for that phone?

                      A few years into the future, every call you make will probably tracked and heavily taxed,

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • mD6
                        • 19 Dec 2008

                        Dani, 18 Dec 2008Woah!!! dayum, these 'features high-end phones' will be mor... moreagree with you, but just imagine x2 ??? yuhuuuuuuuuuuu SE RULE

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • PQ1
                          • 18 Dec 2008

                          Gov just looking for money into their pocket. the mobile phone company alread charge on the features, i can't believe i have pay more tax for different key pad.

                            • H
                            • HooHaw
                            • wHr
                            • 18 Dec 2008

                            What did headline mean by 'legible'?

                              • S
                              • SP
                              • nUe
                              • 18 Dec 2008

                              Another nail in the coffin for the EU.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • uBE
                                • 18 Dec 2008

                                communists..

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • mkk
                                  • 18 Dec 2008

                                  EU: what a morons they are

                                    • D
                                    • Dani
                                    • nGA
                                    • 18 Dec 2008

                                    Woah!!! dayum, these 'features high-end phones' will be more expensive then they already are now then if this law takes power.

                                    Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 will be counted as a Laptop ...!!!

                                    hmmmmm...best of buying standalone devices instead

                                      • J
                                      • JinGx
                                      • Ui$
                                      • 18 Dec 2008

                                      That would worsen the recession problems currently faced by mobile phone manufacturers as less consumers make mobile purchases. Smaller handset makers may encounter cash flow problems or even bankruptcy. This does not bode well for the future of the industry as Europe is the biggest GSM market in the world.

                                        • B
                                        • Bru
                                        • pwy
                                        • 18 Dec 2008

                                        Incredible! Te EU starts taxing more and more stuff. I thought we want to have more tax-free trading? They start acting like the U.S.; having some crazy ideas about taxes, laws and regulations. They should focus on idea's which bring us further, rather than on how we can raise more taxes in strange ways. They should focus on hove to develop more innovative products in Europe rather than how to tax them.