Growth is generated not just from using technology but from producing it, buying it, selling it, and selling with it. Computer and equipment prices have been dropping sharply in recent years, helping to keep inflation down. Calling Costs Technology plans don't always need to be complicated. One reason for American success, economists say, is the simple cost of a telephone call. In most of Europe, however, callers are charged by the minute for local calls, so surfing the Internet for a few hours a day leads to a stiff bill at the end of the month.
Relief is on the way, though.
The resulting competition created a much more efficient telecom infrastructure, and prices for phone calls are dropping substantially. Economists cite Freeserve as the wave of the future. The Dixons Group PLC unit provides free Internet access to British consumers by splitting the profits from the call with the telephone company. We expect to see more like it throughout Europe. The country had been one of Europe's slowpokes until the government made an effort to lure foreign companies to set up shop there.