Unwanted SMS

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rayindesmoines - 22 Mar 2006 06:46 GMT

A couple years ago, I started receiving text message spam on my phone.

I have no use or desire for text messaging of any kind on my phone and
I had Sprint turn the function off.

Yesterday, I received an SMS message. I immediately called Sprint and
the CS rep said that there was no way to turn it off. I informed him
that there was no way that I was going to stay with Sprint if he didn't
turn it off.

He went off the line for a few minutes, came back and said that he
would be able to remove it and claimed that the feature was now off for
incoming and outgoing messages.

Beware, if you haven't already been spammed in this way, you soon will
be!

Also, I've heard that there is something worse coming. Short video
spam messages that will show up periodically on your phone. Both
Sprint and Verizon will soon be testing this new intrusion.

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John - 22 Mar 2006 17:18 GMT

I called Sprint customer service last year over a similar situation. I
requested for the INCOMING SMS function to be turned off so I could
stop receiving messages from friends who were using it as a way to
communicate. The customer service claimed it was turned off but I
continued to receive messages from friends.

Finally I got fed up, went to the Sprint web site, and manually set up
blockers for phone numbers I didn't wish to receive messages from. It
worked that was, but I have since lost faith in Sprint's ability to do
something as simple as turning off a phone feature. Was that too
technological-advanced for Sprint to do?

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Scooterflex - 23 Mar 2006 08:48 GMT

Personally I don't see a need to send SMS. SMS can only be sent and received
by a mobile phone whereas email can be sent and received by a computer also.
If it's something that's important enough for someone to know about it right
away I just call them and it's a lot faster than typing out an SMS message.

I had Sprint turn it off too and now I only get SMS from Sprint themselves.
If I get one from them every three months, that's a lot. Those are only
account alerts though so I don't mind. My biggest worry was SMS Spam sent to
the phone and being charged for it and I was getting about five or six a
month to start.

> I called Sprint customer service last year over a similar situation. I
> requested for the INCOMING SMS function to be turned off so I could
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> something as simple as turning off a phone feature. Was that too
> technological-advanced for Sprint to do?

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Jeremy - 23 Mar 2006 13:39 GMT

> Personally I don't see a need to send SMS. SMS can only be sent and
> received
> by a mobile phone whereas email can be sent and received by a computer
> also.

You can send SMS messages to any email address, and any email address can
send messages to your phone.

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Scooterflex - 24 Mar 2006 08:54 GMT

Didn't know that. Thanks for enlightening me. I still don't see a need.
Email is more universal in my opinion and everyone who has internet access,
phone included, has access to email.

> > Personally I don't see a need to send SMS. SMS can only be sent and
> > received
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> You can send SMS messages to any email address, and any email address can
> send messages to your phone.

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Jeremy - 24 Mar 2006 13:32 GMT

> Didn't know that. Thanks for enlightening me. I still don't see a need.
> Email is more universal in my opinion and everyone who has internet
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>> You can send SMS messages to any email address, and any email address can
>> send messages to your phone.

It's like carrying a Western Union telegraph machine in your pocket.

And there is no need to set up a separate Internet access account, just to
be able to send or receive an occasional email/SMS message. For a low
volume user like me, the $.10 charge is a bargain.

I remember what it cost to send a telex, telegram, cablegram, radiogram or
even an MCI Mail message--and SMS is truly a bargain compared to those
now-defunct alternatives. Not to mention the fact that there is no need to
be tied down to a computer or teletype machine--the messages can be sent or
received anywhere while on-network.

I realize that there are now better alternatives, such as wireless Internet,
but that costs extra, and the casual user like I doesn't require full-blown
access. The occasional SMS charge makes this service a bargain.

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Scooterflex - 27 Mar 2006 12:48 GMT

But if you have an email address with sites like Yahoo or Google you can
check them without setting up another account. You just have to login. That
is if you have internet access on your phone. Some people still don't.

> And there is no need to set up a separate Internet access account, just to
> be able to send or receive an occasional email/SMS message. For a low
> volume user like me, the $.10 charge is a bargain.

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Jerome Zelinske - 27 Mar 2006 16:09 GMT

No need to set up a separate Internet account. You already have
email with @sprintpcs.com.

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Scooterflex - 29 Mar 2006 12:34 GMT

Forgot about that one...

> No need to set up a separate Internet account. You already have
> email with @sprintpcs.com.

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