Does anyone else Think Sprint Texting is a Ripoff?

[evossman]

Thought I would open this one up to the forum since the only other people I know with text messaging on other plans have family bulk plans.

I feel, even before teh recent rate hike, that sprint text messaging is a ripoff! I mean 0.15 per text and then unlimited texting costs like $15 or $20 now, that's like a whole new plan, why don't I just get a phone specificially for texting from another carrier and carry it around like it was the 90's again and I had a pager and a cell phone.

[autoprime]

cingular offers 3000 texts/picture mail for $20/month .. I dont believe verizon has an unlimited plan either... not sure on t-mobile.

sprint offers unlimited texts for $15... heh, and u wanna switch?!

have fun with that.

[kulnet]

Well, I can't comment because they give me 500 free every month.

[Dale]

Same here. I really would like unlimited, but Sprint said noway!

[EDGE23]

cingular offers 3000 texts/picture mail for $20/month .. I dont believe verizon has an unlimited plan either... not sure on t-mobile.

sprint offers unlimited texts for $15... heh, and u wanna switch?!

have fun with that.
i think hes probably refering to sprint good years, when unimited txt, pic and vision was 15.00 all together, now unlimited txt is 15.00 alone, if you vision and pic is going to cost you 15.00 more.. good years 15.00 sad years 30.00, i know sprint is cheap compared to other carriers.

[JSMZ]

Wirelessly posted (Blade killer :D: Samsung-SPHA920 AU-MIC-A920/2.0 MMP/2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

if you dont txt much and pay for txt per message, its cheaper to buy a tracfone for txt. Tracfone gives you 3 txt's per unit, 100 units for $30 ( & I think 4 months of air time ). That ends up to be 10 cents per txt. So if you dont text much, it is a better deal.

[sprintdragon]

Another option when sending messages, try using GoText. http://sourceforge.net/projects/gotext. They recently added support for US phone numbers, and seems to work pretty good. You'd still have to pay for your incoming text messages, but at least the outgoing messages would be either free (vision) or billed at your data rate.

[ppgt94]

I think the idea of charging for text messaging with a limit in general is a rip-off, no matter what carrier. It's only expensive because it's extremly popular. I mean it's crazy that I can get unlimited internet access (which using loads more bandwidth) for only $10 a month, yet pay half that amount for some very simple limited SMS service that pre-dates any Vision service. Could you imaging if most ISPs charged you per email message or capped your amount of messages? It just seems very backwards.

[kulnet]

On top of everything else, if you're like me with a Treo 700wx, you're not even getting what you are paying for. Well, technically I have it free but still. It's the principle of the matter.

[Nagual]

Another option when sending messages, try using GoText. http://sourceforge.net/projects/gotext. They recently added support for US phone numbers, and seems to work pretty good. You'd still have to pay for your incoming text messages, but at least the outgoing messages would be either free (vision) or billed at your data rate.

That seems cool, but all that's available are a whole bunch of java files within a .zip file...and .zips can't be used on a phone, can they? Please clarify.

[alaron]

I think the idea of charging for text messaging with a limit in general is a rip-off, no matter what carrier. It's only expensive because it's extremly popular. I mean it's crazy that I can get unlimited internet access (which using loads more bandwidth) for only $10 a month, yet pay half that amount for some very simple limited SMS service that pre-dates any Vision service. Could you imaging if most ISPs charged you per email message or capped your amount of messages? It just seems very backwards.
You just answered your own question... it's not backwards at all.

[johnh123]

Bah, just send them an email and ask for some free texts. They gave me 500 free texts the day after I signed up.

[Runaround]

Qwest has it set up the best, $.05 per message and a maximum charge of $10 per month. Plus their Power Vision plans are cheaper.

[MrMariner]

Well, I can't comment because they give me 500 free every month.

Bah, just send them an email and ask for some free texts. They gave me 500 free texts the day after I signed up.


Could someone explain with a little more detail how to go about getting this?
That sounds like a sweet deal.

[pcsperson]

I do not think the prices are unreasonalbe. This is a very profitable market (texting) my little brother hardly calls, he just prefers to text. some times I forget what he sounds like.

Like ppgt94 said " It's only expensive because it's extremly popular."

[ppgt94]

Bah, just send them an email and ask for some free texts. They gave me 500 free texts the day after I signed up.


Sure, I mean I get 500 free texts too, but that's not the point. It's the simple idea. Also most people don't want to bother dealing with Sprint CS.

[evossman]

if they give away all these free texts why do they have to charge so much for unlimited? and why charge so much for per text basis.

[Dale]

Bah, just send them an email and ask for some free texts. They gave me 500 free texts the day after I signed up.

500 free texts is really awesome. However, would be nice to have unlimited!

[sprintdragon]

Nagual, the actual home page for GoText is http://www.gotext.org/

[cliffr39]

I think sprint's rates are pretty good. Wither vzw I only get unlimited for IN customers, and 500 for other wireless phone numbers. For 20 its only 2000 out of network.

[evossman]

I think the idea of charging for text messaging with a limit in general is a rip-off, no matter what carrier. It's only expensive because it's extremly popular. I mean it's crazy that I can get unlimited internet access (which using loads more bandwidth) for only $10 a month, yet pay half that amount for some very simple limited SMS service that pre-dates any Vision service. Could you imaging if most ISPs charged you per email message or capped your amount of messages? It just seems very backwards.

Agree fully with this, sucks when something gets popular. doesn't matter that it probably costs them next to nothing, just something they can use to swindle more money out of us, popular sucks

[Defiance]

Back in the day it used to be UNLIMITED Internet and Text Messaging for $15 for Sprint. Now it's a bunch of crap. $15 for the text and $20 for the internet!

[ppgt94]

When you have the PCS to PCS free minutes does this include texting PCS to PCS?

[Hott2Death]

When you have the PCS to PCS free minutes does this include texting PCS to PCS?
no it doesn't

[JSMZ]

Wirelessly posted (Blade killer :D: Samsung-SPHA920 AU-MIC-A920/2.0 MMP/2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

Wirelessly posted (Blade killer :D: Samsung-SPHA920 AU-MIC-A920/2.0 MMP/2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

if you dont txt much and pay for txt per message, its cheaper to buy a tracfone for txt. Tracfone gives you 3 txt's per unit, 100 units for $30 ( & I think 4 months of air time ). That ends up to be 10 cents per txt. So if you dont text much, it is a better deal.

oh yeah, i forgot to mention the nokia 1100b tracfone i have also has free in txt . so, yeah, tracfone has a WAY cheaper per message rate.

[Maja]

The prices are inline, which doesn't make it better, but at least you understand that, unless as was posted before and you go with something like TracFone, you will pay regardless. I believe it is $20 for unlimited texting at TMobile, last I heard, if that gives you any indication of the competition. The good thing is that no one is making you text. Consider paying for Vision, which gives you 100 free, and using a messenger through your vision connection. It is funny how much people rely, and use, on something so basic as text messaging. You have the ability to miraculously call someone anywhere in the world, but instead we choose to send them something so basic as TEXT. :)

[mcnu]

Another option when sending messages, try using GoText. http://sourceforge.net/projects/gotext. They recently added support for US phone numbers, and seems to work pretty good. You'd still have to pay for your incoming text messages, but at least the outgoing messages would be either free (vision) or billed at your data rate.
you can also send all the unlimited texts through your srint account. However, i have noticed when doing that, that i cant send to verizon or alltel phones. it says the subscriber is not accepting web messages.

[thesonofgray]

I just wish that Sprint (and other providers) has smaller text plans. I usually only send/recieve less than 100 texts but am forced to pay 5 bucks a month, 60 bucks a year, 120 over my two year contract for texts that I largely don't use.

It used to be valid to say, "well if you don't text much, just pay the per text cost". Ha! At 15 cents a message, that's less than 7 texts sent/recieved for every dollar. 100 texts? 15 bucks!

Which would you rather have: 3 text messages and their responses -or- a double cheeseburger from McD's? I'm hungry.

About the calling vs texting thing, I only use texts when I am unable to talk (like if I'm in class or in a silent waiting room). But I do think it's ridiculous how antisocial (in the non-virtual sense) my generation is. A lot of my friends will send me a text message and they are shocked and utterly amazed that I actually called them to respond.

[DrDoom]

Back in the day it used to be UNLIMITED Internet and Text Messaging for $15 for Sprint. Now it's a bunch of crap. $15 for the text and $20 for the internet!
Yeah, but "back in the day" it wasn't real text. It was f'ing ShortMail, and it was SO horrible that I NEVER used it! Took forever for the other person to get it, and then forever to LOG ON and get the damn message.

I'll pay $8 for unlimited, thanks. :rolleyes:

[YPG]

Go Phone text are only .05 per message sent or received and I was told they do not charge you the $1 per day access fee if you only text and do not set up your VM.

[jh101_7]

cingular offers 3000 texts/picture mail for $20/month .. I dont believe verizon has an unlimited plan either... not sure on t-mobile.

sprint offers unlimited texts for $15... heh, and u wanna switch?!

have fun with that.


tmo charges 20 for text/pics/video AND that is all lines on the account whether you have one or five lines it's $20/mo.

[bigaL4u2c]

Correct about T-Mobile. I just left the mall and went in just to see what they have. I asked and it's only $20./month for up to five lines, unlimited everything (texts, im's, pic's, videos, etc.) sending and receiving from anyone.

Come on Sprint. I'm paying $15. per line for unlimited text and your competition is only charing $20. for five lines!!!

I'm not going to switch over this but it looks tempting.

AL in CAL

[pcsperson]

Back in the day it used to be UNLIMITED Internet and Text Messaging for $15 for Sprint. Now it's a bunch of crap. $15 for the text and $20 for the internet!

They need to pay for the technology to to offer us Power Vision. I stilll have a non PV phone but when it comes not to it streaming music and video on a phone is a nice to kill time, waiting to pick the kids up or being stuck on the train.

[jh101_7]

Correct about T-Mobile. I just left the mall and went in just to see what they have. I asked and it's only $20./month for up to five lines, unlimited everything (texts, im's, pic's, videos, etc.) sending and receiving from anyone.

Come on Sprint. I'm paying $15. per line for unlimited text and your competition is only charing $20. for five lines!!!

I'm not going to switch over this but it looks tempting.

AL in CAL

I am very tempted to switch because of this.

[pcsperson]

I am very tempted to switch because of this.


if you do go, are you willing to sell you 9000? :fingers:

Just decided to take a look at Us and them.

300 SMS Text Messages $5.00
1000 SMS Text Messages $10.00
Unlimited SMS Text Messages $15.00

VZW
Unlimited IN Messaging PLUS 500 additional messages $10.00/month
Unlimited IN Messaging PLUS 1000 additional messages $15.00/month
Unlimited IN Messaging PLUS 2500 additional messages $20.00/month

T- mobile

Any 400 Messages $4.99 per month
Any 1000 Messages $9.99 per month
Unlimited Messages $14.99 per month

( this one below is only shown if you have a family plan)
Unlimited Messages for Families $19.95 per month
Send and receive any type of message you want, in any combination you want. Text, IM, picture, or video messages--it's up to you! And the best part is one bundle covers up to 5 subscribers on the same FamilyTime plan so you only need to buy one!