Telus, Bell to charge for incoming text messages

[monke]

More bad news for Canadian cell phone users.

Bell, Telus to charge for incoming text messages
Plan will see customers pay 15 cents for every message -- including spam

Sarah Schmidt, Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Cellphone users are about to be hit with new fees as two of Canada's telecommunications giants plan to bring in a levy on incoming text messages.

Bell Mobility will begin charging customers 15 cents per incoming text message on Aug. 8. Telus Mobility is moving to the same billing practice effective Aug. 24. Until now, their pay-per-use customers who send text messages have been charged a 15-cent fee per message, but it hasn't cost anything to receive them.

....

"We just don't charge for it, and have no plans to. Now it's a unique differentiator for Rogers," company spokeswoman Elizabeth Hamilton said of the move to charge for incoming messages.

Rogers is dealing with its own customer backlash over its rate plans for the Apple iPhone, on store shelves this Friday. The company, which has an exclusive iPhone carrier arrangement with Apple Inc. in Canada, is offering monthly plans ranging from $60 to $155.

The proposed fee schedule has unleashed an online campaign against Rogers, under the tagline "Screwing Canadian iPhone customers since '08."
Canadians already pay more than Europeans and Americans for cellphone services. Industry Minister Jim Prentice acknowledged this fact in the spring when he opened Canada's wireless spectrum auction.

Industry Canada set aside 40 megahertz, out of a total 105, for smaller companies to compete against the established tele-communications giants. Mr. Prentice said "the intent behind the auction is lower prices, more choice for consumers."

Full Article

 

[RainForRent]

I've been paying for incoming text messages, since like 1999. American cell phone plans suck.

 

[heehee]

Plan will see customers pay 15 cents for every message -- including spam

This sucks. I'm just rogers though, but still sucks. Why would I have to pay for spams annoying me?

 

[rockthecasbah]

I've been paying for incoming text messages, since like 1999. American cell phone plans suck.

Exactly I was confused when i first read the title I just assumed everyone paid for them

 

[nigrunze]

What is this! The year 1999? Why should we suddenly start getting charged to receive a text message whether or not it's spam?

Someone should probably start a ruinedbellandtelusphones.com (or something like that) petition.

 

[monke]

I've been paying for incoming text messages, since like 1999. American cell phone plans suck.

Exactly I was confused when i first read the title I just assumed everyone paid for them

I didn't know that American cell providers charged for incoming text messages... hmm.

How do they handle Spam?
How much do they charge for an incoming message compared to a outgoing message?

According to that article, Telus and Bell will charge $0.15 per text message, both sending and receiving.

 

[PlaceofDis]

I didn't know that American cell providers charged for incoming text messages... hmm.

How do they handle Spam?
How much do they charge for an incoming message compared to a outgoing message?

According to that article, Telus and Bell will charge $0.15 per text message, both sending and receiving.

what spam? i don't get spam via text.

i think its between $0.10-0.15 in and out going texts with no text plan depending on carrier

 

[iShater]

what spam? i don't get spam via text.

i think its between $0.10-0.15 in and out going texts with no text plan depending on carrier

If you gave your cell's email address that sends you SMSs (like flight status info, etc), you might get spam.

I decided to for t-mobile's $4.99 for 400 msgs plan and that turned out the best deal for me. Except of course it doesn't cover international SMS.

 

[heehee]

what spam? i don't get spam via text.

i think its between $0.10-0.15 in and out going texts with no text plan depending on carrier

My mom's phone get alot of spams for her cellphone. "Go to this link...blah blah blah"

What if some kid starts spamming random cell phone from facebook or a website? I would be pissed if I have to pay for those.

 

[iJohnHenry]

You know, a wired phone isn't looking too bad these days.

 

[it5five]

How do they handle Spam?
How much do they charge for an incoming message compared to a outgoing message?

They don't handle it. I get spam texts (and no, I didn't sign up for anything, the person who had my phone number before me probably did), and my choice was to either block all incoming texts or to live with it.

 

[11800506]

IIRC, most American cell companies charge between $0.15-$0.20 for all texts without a plan, incoming and outgoing.

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/23/cell-phone-bill-on-the-rise-check-your-sms-charges/

 

[bobbyblowfish]

how can this happen after so many years

It started at 15 cents and now after 10 years it goes to 30 cents. It's like buying a tv from 10 years ago for double the price.

http://www.justquibble.com/?p=17

 

[Abstract]

IIRC, most American cell companies charge between $0.15-$0.20 for all texts without a plan, incoming and outgoing.

Honestly, I didn't know that. That's retarded. I can understand the charge for sending SMS, but not for receiving it. The fact that someone you don't like may send you an SMS is completely out of the hands/control of the user, so it really shouldn't cost money. Same thing with incoming mobile phone calls. If a company phones my mobile phone, I don't want to be charged for it! I don't mind if I get charged for calls from friends, family, my employer, or possibly my doctor (for whatever reason), but otherwise, no thanks.

 

[GSMiller]

A few years back it used to be 5¢ to send a text message and 1¢ to receive one with my carrier. The price has since double, but still not bad considering what the nationwide carriers charge. You all know what needs to happen don't you? Google needs to enter the wireless telecommunications business and shake things just like Gmail did with free email services.

 

[monke]

Honestly, I didn't know that. That's retarded. I can understand the charge for sending SMS, but not for receiving it. The fact that someone you don't like may send you an SMS is completely out of the hands/control of the user, so it really shouldn't cost money. Same thing with incoming mobile phone calls. If a company phones my mobile phone, I don't want to be charged for it! I don't mind if I get charged for calls from friends, family, my employer, or possibly my doctor (for whatever reason), but otherwise, no thanks.

Hopefully they'll offer extremely cheap text plans (like $5 for 100 or something) with unlimited incoming like the voice plans.

Quite honestly, I would rather have them charge twice as much for an outgoing than an incoming, that way a single user has complete control of their charges.

 

[grapes911]

I didn't know that American cell providers charged for incoming text messages... hmm.

How do they handle Spam?

In the US, telemarketing to cell phones is illegal. I assume this covers text messages as well.

 

[ErikCLDR]

I believe with Verizon its 10 cents to send, 10 cents to receive.


That has always bothered me.

 

[Voidness]

I'm currently in Saudi Arabia, and it's surprising how a lot of cell phone services are taken for granted here while they're paid options in the US and Canada. Free incoming calls, free incoming messages (SMS and MMS), caller ID, per-second billing, and voicemail are standard on any plan, even pre-paid!

Charging for incoming texts is just plain robbery, and Rogers is sure to follow.

 

[11800506]

I believe with Verizon its 10 cents to send, 10 cents to receive.


That has always bothered me.

They've risen it to $0.20 for incoming and outgoing texts. It hasn't been that low for awhile.