Offers by SMS? Always read the small print...

Earlier in the month David Meyer reported on Vodafone's summer roaming promotion, where you can call in certain countries at no extra cost. As a Vodafone customer I've just received an SMS telling me about the promotion, only it simply says that roaming charges have been "abolished" and gives me the chance to opt in by SMS. Oh, sure, there's a URI of the terms and conditions for the promotion, but nowhere in the original message is it suggested that it's a time-limited offer. Most dictionaries agree that abolished means "ended", not temporarily suspended. Vodafone, sort your marketing out.

The lesson here is an old one: always read the small print.