Unlimited text messaging?

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Ethan - 19 Jul 2003 03:22 GMT

Hello,

I recently asked a sales slug at a kiosk if Alltel had unlimited text
messaging like Suncom, and they said yes. I didn't think much of it,
the data bursts for the 160 characaters has to consume less than 1
minute of compressed speach. Compared to me dialing into my modem bank
hooked to my office PBX and sitting there for 40 minutes of time on
the weekend, SMS should be a blessing.

But after signing up and getting a dated but pimp Kyorcera 6035
(Which can dial up via TCP/IP into my modem bank + terminal server) I
was trying to figure out how to email the stupid thing a text message.
Low and behold I see on their web site that I'm paying $6.95 for 300
text messages. It is cheaper to make a f.cking call assuming half the
time is on weekends. Sure, it has FREE unlimited incoming messages,
but probably because they can't figure out how to bill for it. Suncom
has free incoming as well, and you can actually email theirs.

Has anyone suceeded in bitching to them and getting the $7 a month
turned into unlimited SMS? The problem is Suncom isn't CDMA and
neither the Kyrocwhatever or the Samsung I300 do GSM. SprintPCS used
to have text messaging listed but they yanked it in order to push the
Vision crap.

I really like the idea of SMS (mainly cause I'm using a palm). Do
these carriers really expect for it to take off in the US considering
it is a pain in the a.s to type on a numeric keypad of these tiny
phones? Why the high rates? I hardly know anyone willing to pay it...
Nearly EVERYONE I know with it is on a Suncom / AT&T phone where the
rates aren't as high. I wanted to join in on the fun, using a palm
(that isn't the funky flip open fatty StarTac looking Treo deal).

Chances are I wouldn't send more than 300 a month, but still it bugs
me knowing the tech behind it.

Comments?

Verizon had this scam, they had a brocure advertising unlimited text
messaging for $7 or what not, but in the fine print it said after 3
months it is limited to 600 or so outgoing messages. LIMITS SUCK,
especially when it is a miniscule amount of data.

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cam leblanc - 29 Jul 2003 04:07 GMT

ive only seen one person ever break the 300 outgoing limit, and it was a
14 year old girl with an entry-level nokia and a bad attitude.. but
that's beside the point..

reps have the ability to put unlimited/free text messaging on an
account, the trick is finding one that..

a) knows how
b) can be convinced

remember, they (i included) are sales people.. make a deal! ask for text
messaging, and if he says 6.95 ask for free.. if he says he cant do it,
offer to do something for him.. say you'll sign up with some other
feature and pay for it. then call customer service and cancel the
feature later.

that is the mistake most customers make.. we get paid by selling
features that cost money, by allowing a customer to come in and
ask/demand something free it gives us nothing to give it for free, it
gives us a piece of our quota and some commission for getting you to pay
for it.. because, honestly, you arent going anywhere unless you're out
of contract.. and even if you're out, the sales rep has 0 reason to try
and save you with such a thing.. i often will attempt to "save"
customers from leaving but only because it usually creates a fan for
life and the repeat business that comes with it..

just my two cents from the trenches.

ethan@757.org (Ethan) wrote in article
<ba51dd5.0307181822.6ca7edbf@posting.google.com>:

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
> months it is limited to 600 or so outgoing messages. LIMITS SUCK,
> especially when it is a miniscule amount of data.

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