No more ESPN score updates

[mustangboy88]

Was sitting at my desk at work when I got this text on my EVO.

ESPN: Free ESPN Alerts are no longer available on Sprint, Boost, Virgin and Nextel. Please visit http://espn.com/alerts for a list of alternate carriers.

Kinda ticked off about this, as it was the way I got all my score updates while I work since I work at night.

Typed on my CyanoSavaged SuperEvo.

[californiablackberry]

It seems that the service is now available on Verizon.
When you click the link, on the bottom right of the page it says:

Attention Verizon Wireless V Cast VPak customers! You are eligible for ESPN MVP Alerts.

Further digging and reading around, I also found:

ESPN MVP is only available to Verizon Wireless V Cast subscribers.

[ridesno159]

Just go get ScoreMobile, in AppWorld or just google it. They have push alerts for favorite teams and/or games.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[mustangboy88]

Just found this article over on the Sprint Forums and it basically shows what happened today.

Here

This was already going to happen, but obviously none of us knew. This is not the only service that it going to be affected. This is all on Sprint's end. They basically want and have raised the price on the companies that send out texts through their databases. The update above is not exactly right and really should be rephrased. They are not charging "us", but rather, charging the companies that send out the mass texts to subscribers of that paricular service.

T-Mobile tried the same thing last September. And VZW tried it in 2008 with a .03% increase for content related text services.

Here

This is something that is happening across all the carriers. I think it is just getting blown up because ESPN is a big name to throw out and really affects the masses.

I am like many above. I like getting my texts, instead of refreshing apps to get the scores. Not to mention that ESPN did a pretty good job getting the scores out pretty quickly. I installed the scorecenter app and hopefully it will fill the void.

Sprint speaks

In response to inquiries on the topic, Emmy Anderson, Minneapolis-based spokeswoman for Sprint, gave the following statement:

Sprint is partnering with many industry-leading companies to form the core of Sprint’s Solution Enabler Program.

These solution-enablers have direct access to Sprint’s APIs that are exposed through the new Sprint Services Framework.

Solution-enablers will also provide many of their own value-added services to help a customer deliver an optimized solution that meets their needs.

As the first wave of APIs, Sprint is exposing services such as LBS, SMS, MMS, geofence and presence as part of the Sprint Services Framework.

Many services will be provided for free such as presence, while some services will require Sprint to charge solution-enablers, aggregators and developers a fee to recoup our costs of delivering these services.

Sprint is not increasing the messaging or data fees consumers pay

Specific to SMS, Sprint will charge a per-message fee to aggregators and solution-enablers for SMS programs.

This charge is a cost-recovery measure designed to allow Sprint to continue to support the billions of SMS messages that are sent each year as part of mobile marketing campaigns, alerts, et cetera.

[tmarkt]

Originally Posted by mustangboy88

Was sitting at my desk at work when I got this text on my EVO.

ESPN: Free ESPN Alerts are no longer available on Sprint, Boost, Virgin and Nextel. Please visit http://espn.com/alerts for a list of alternate carriers.

Kinda ticked off about this, as it was the way I got all my score updates while I work since I work at night.

Typed on my CyanoSavaged SuperEvo.

I didn't even know Sprint had this. I always checked the web for sports scores...

[lnichols]

Awesome they are not only nickel and diming the customers ($10 smart phone fee, no Blackberry International unless you keep it on plan all the time, possible $30 fee just to use the Playbooks bridge, etc), but now they are going after content providers too! Maybe they figure that since T-Mobile may be gone they can't lose the third spot so may as well extort people.

[rottonj]

I dont understand why you still have Sprint service. For months on this forum you have done nothing but complain. I feel your pain , these increases stink but you need to get over it and move on.The grass may be greener somewhere else for you and you will get better value for your money.In my opinion these changes will eventully hit all carriers if they have not yet, I think Sprint is still cheaper then most. I hope whatever change you make for your international service works out for the best. Good luck in your quest