Ulster bank goes App

If memory serves Pricewatch correctly, Ulster Bank has never been at the cutting edge when it comes to introducing new technology for its customers but that may have changed with the launch last week of its free mobile banking app for the iPhone.

The app includes up-to-the-minute account balance checks and mini-statements showing customers' last six transactions. It also has a text alert service, which notifies customers when their account is close to being overdrawn – although this might not be the kind of depressing information many people would fancy getting by text while they're out having fun on a Saturday night.

We did check who'd have to pay for these warning text messages and are glad to say that the bank is picking up for the tab.

Sky high prices

Fine Gael's communications spokesman Leo Varadkar alerted us to a survey which showed Sky Television customers here pay up to 20 per cent more than customers in the UK and "are getting an inferior service".

The FG survey showed that Sky's Basic package is £19 (€22.80) in the UK compared with €23 in Ireland – not much of a price difference you might think. However, the Sky basic package in the UK also includes 20Mb broadband and free evening and weekend calls. We only get the TV channels.

Sky's basic package with Sky Sports is £40 (€48) in the UK against €57 in Ireland so we pay 19 per cent more. Again, British customers also get broadband and phone as part of their basic package. Sky's package with Sky Movies is £36 (€43.23) in the UK against €51 in Ireland or 18 per cent higher.

In response, Sky pointed out that the BBC and ITV are free to air in the UK but not here. We're not convinced that justifies the price differentials, particularly when you consider we are getting a dramatically inferior product with no broadband or phone calls.