Anyone else tempted to drop the a la carte text messaging add on from their grandfathered AT&T plan?

[Tronic]

So I've been stuck with unlimited sms since ATT made that the only option back in 2011. Now that I'm receiving very few actually text messages I'm tempted to just dump it completely. My only hesitation is all the two-factor authentications I have set up where the service texts me a code.

Anyone else been in this situation but decided to dump sms anyway? It would be great if two-factor authentications were all sent via iMessages. I know a lot of services offer to call, text or email so maybe it's not that big of a deal?I've read that i'd have to have sms totally blocked on my account in order to not get dinged a quarter for every incoming message.

Thoughts?

 

[Flow39]

Unlimited messaging comes standard in almost all plans. I don't see any reason to get rid of it if it's already included in the cost of your plan.

 

[nburwell]

My AT&T Mobile Share plan comes with unlimited talk and text and 15GB of data, so there really isn't any reason for me to get rid of it. Plus, I have several friends who have Android phone's, so I would not want to pay per text I receive since it will add up. At least I know that the amount of my bill won't fluctuate from month to month as long as I don't go over my allotted data.

 

[Newtons Apple]

No one wants to talk on the phone anymore so texts are a very large part of my business when it comes to contacting customers and getting orders.

I have been with ATT for ever and it has always been unlimited texts. I did not think anyone had to pay for texts anymore.

 

[willmtaylor]

Are you NOT in the States? I know in many other areas SMS, minutes! And data are still offered a la carte, but I've had unlimited talk & text with my data for many years now in the U.S.; it's just a packaged deal.

 

[andyp350]

I don't know what its like in the US but over here in the UK its pretty much impossible to find a plan that doesn't include unlimited SMS as standard now, its data allowance that they base the prices on.

 

[C DM]

Most plans for the past few years include unlimited messaging (and usually unlimited minutes) pretty much by default. At the same time, many plans prior to that (those somewhat older than a few years) typically had limited minutes and basically no messaging--messages could be added in bundles or perhaps some extra charge could be added on top of the plan price to get unlimited messaging.

So this question realistically mainly applies to those on the older plans where messaging wasn't really included by default (aside on a pay-per-message basis or by getting some separate messaging bundle/feature).

 

[Applejuiced]

Not me.
Its only $10 for my family plan and gives me unlimited mobile to any mobile phone calling on any carrier in the US.

 

[Tronic]

I'm on a grandfathered unlimited data plan from AT&T and everything is a la carte. 450 mins talk is $40, unlimited data is $30, and unlimited text is $20.

 

[radiologyman]

I'm on a grandfathered unlimited data plan from AT&T and everything is a la carte. 450 mins talk is $40, unlimited data is $30, and unlimited text is $20.

I am in the same boat. I am trying to change my att sms number to a free texting from google by giving new contacts the google number. BTW, Google hangouts will let you have unlimited calling for free too.

 

[Rayfire]

I'm on a grandfathered unlimited data plan from AT&T and everything is a la carte. 450 mins talk is $40, unlimited data is $30, and unlimited text is $20.

I have that plan but the unlimited text is only for $10 (before they raised it to $20, I got grandfathered). You should call their retention department and check and see if they can offer it to you, YMMV of course (just dial 611 -> press 0 -> 3)

 

[JonathanK81]

I have that plan but the unlimited text is only for $10 (before they raised it to $20, I got grandfathered). You should call their retention department and check and see if they can offer it to you, YMMV of course (just dial 611 -> press 0 -> 3)

Like Rayfire, I have the same thing. $10 for unlimited texting plus it comes with Mobile 2 Any Mobile as well. I have the old 450 minute plan. But with M2AM and A-List on my plan, I don't need unlimited minutes, since I pretty much have that covered.

 

[Charadis]

I have the $10 for 1000 texts grandfathered with my unlimited data plan. Since many people I communicate with own iPhones and use iMessage, 1000 is a comfortable limit for SMS with my noniPhone wielding friends. Sent from my iPad.

 

[willmtaylor]

I have the $10 for 1000 texts grandfathered with my unlimited data plan. Since many people I communicate with own iPhones and use iMessage, 1000 is a comfortable limit for SMS with my noniPhone wielding friends. Sent from my iPad.

Not to mention that you can send iMessages from your iPad as well.

 

[Tronic]

I have the $10 for 1000 texts grandfathered with my unlimited data plan. Since many people I communicate with own iPhones and use iMessage, 1000 is a comfortable limit for SMS with my noniPhone wielding friends. Sent from my iPad.

I wish I could downgrade to this level. I had it for the longest time but then upgraded to unlimited right before it became the only option.

 

[Charadis]

Not to mention that you can send iMessages from your iPad as well.

So true. Could almost live without the phone now; may as well make the iPad an iPhone!

I wish I could downgrade to this level. I had it for the longest time but then upgraded to unlimited right before it became the only option.

That's a bummer, just bad timing. :/ I literally hate that carriers take away such options; makes it hard to stay with a carrier and hard to choose another carrier.

 

[nostresshere]

How much data do you use on your "unlimited"? We dumped the unlimited 1-2 years ago. Saved us $1000 a year.

 

[Applejuiced]

How much data do you use on your "unlimited"? We dumped the unlimited 1-2 years ago. Saved us $1000 a year.

I use about 8-10GB per month.
But who knows in the future it might go up.
Its always nice not having to worry going over and use data any time you want.

 

[willmtaylor]

I, for one, am interested to see what happens with data plans as 4K becomes more mainstream.

 

[KPOM]

I don't know what its like in the US but over here in the UK its pretty much impossible to find a plan that doesn't include unlimited SMS as standard now, its data allowance that they base the prices on.

He's talking about a grandfathered plan. In the old days, the carriers gave unlimited data and charged for minutes and texts in tiers. Now they give unlimited minutes and texts, and charge for data in tiers.

 

[KPOM]

Anyone else been in this situation but decided to dump sms anyway? It would be great if two-factor authentications were all sent via iMessages. I know a lot of services offer to call, text or email so maybe it's not that big of a deal?I've read that i'd have to have sms totally blocked on my account in order to not get dinged a quarter for every incoming message.

Thoughts?

This is one area where retention can still work with you, from my experience. When Sprint came out with its "cut your bill in half" promotion, I got a quote and asked AT&T why I shouldn't jump to Sprint for unlimited everything at $30/month (I had an old grandfathered plan with unlimited data, and a 25% corporate discount that came out to around $60/month). I actually wanted more texts since I started using them more. They threw a bunch of rollover minutes, and offered me the $10 unlimited wireless and M2M plan. So if you are paying $20 for unlimited texts, see if they'll put you on the $10 text plan, or just go ahead and drop the text plan knowing you should be able to get back onto the $10 plan if your needs change.

 

[mjcxp]

Retention Department can help you. I called them a few months back and talked to someone who was able to find the unlimited texts with unlimited M2AM for $10. It took her a while but she was eventually able to find it and apply it to my account.