Comments on: Are You Being Charged Too Much For Text Messaging?

By: Text Messaging Is a Big Scam and Costs Way Too Much | Weakonomi¢s

Text Messaging Is a Big Scam and Costs Way Too Much | Weakonomi¢s — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:13:17 +0000

[...] thanks to the following links for contributing information to this article: Mobile Mag PC Mech How Stuff Works Wikipedia Washington Post There were others too, but I lost some links along the [...]

By: blue60007

blue60007 — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:40:07 +0000

Yeah I think most are that way. Sending does cost more than receiving but still.

By: SAP

SAP — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:42:30 +0000

Is it only in the US where the receiver pays for mobile phone text messages?

In the UK (and Europe, AFAIK) the sender pays for SMS messages and voice calls. The receiver does not pay unless they are roaming, and then only for voice calls. Text messages are still free to receive abroad.

By: blue60007

blue60007 — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 22:45:21 +0000

What’s worse is when you receive wrong number text messages and it costs you for someone else’s fat fingers.

By: Karl

Karl — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:38:40 +0000

Hell no! I don’t think it’s resonable at all. I pay few bucks in spam text messages alone; let alone the legit ones. I wish I could block text messaging on my cell or allow only certain phone numbers to send me texts. Bummer for now…

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:30:34 +0000

i have been with just about all the cell fone companies, and, actually they all suck, metropcs coverage ? perfect for me, if i am traveling somewhere for the weekend that they dont cover , np, i have a trac fone for that, still save more that way than paying double with the other companies for the exact same service, and, actually , their customer service has been far better than tmobiles or nextel’s

By: Drew

Drew — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:11:14 +0000

MetroPCS? LOL Uhh, pity both their customer service and coverage is crap.

SAP – the overhead of processing is negligible. Cell phone SMS technology was paid for basically within it’s first few years of inception. Back in Australia, on the GSM network, the actual physical cost of sending a text message is only 0.06 of 1 cent. So, 0.06 cents then. I know this as I was a corporate account manager for one of the major players back home in Oz and I had friends who worked with the SMS Gateway and I gained a tonne of valuable insight into the way it works.

In a nutshell, this article is spot on. Pricing is ludicrous and extreme. I pay $10 per month for unlimited texting which in itself, is kind of extreme in itself, but the Telco’s know we will pay for it. Only way it’ll get changed is through Congress I’d say

By: SAP

SAP — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:24:06 +0000

I think you are overlooking the overhead of processing the messages, so it’s not entirely fair to aggregate the data volumes in this way.

Each message has to be individually routed and perhaps stored temporarily.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:05:30 +0000

i use metropcs, 45.00 a month unlimited everything