The Removal of Text Messaging Plans Options

[austriker]

So I was about to move my line from my parents plan to my own plan. I do like ATT, basically because my company's discount with them, SIM cards and the fact they offer rollover minutes. Which is great because I dont use my phone like crazy. I was looking at the cheapest plan (450 minutes) which would be plenty and then like 500 text messages.

So I to re-check on my options in the last few days and realized that the scumbags at ATT decided to eliminate options for the consumer; for a new line I can only get an unlimited amount of texts for 30 freaking bucks or pay per use. I use about 400-500 texts per month and also would have 200 mb for my 9900. I would probably buy the 9810 and then sell it.

is there any way to get a smaller than unlimited rate plan? I have been with att since cingular and thus am a 'valued customer' (me dreaming..). I dont want to move to VZ especially since I just got a rogers 9900 a few weeks ago. But the lack of text message plan options might change this. Any thoughts besides the usual flaming for something that is considered old news?

[yoga.flame]

This is just a money grab by AT&T. The tiny data packets that make up texts are essentially free to all cell providers.

My advise: call and see if someone at AT&T will accommodate you (I'm sure someone there can still give you a reasonable texting plan, even if they've been told not to). If not, leave for a carrier that has a texting option that fits your needs. I'm sure you won't lose too much, if any, money on the Rogers 9900.

[austriker]

A stupid money grab at that. Lame we have to pay for text messaging, let alone have zero options (30 bucks or nothing..).

I will call ATT and see what they can maybe do. I was going to stop by a place in person today but couldnt find it (google gave me a different address than att's site which was hardly working well)

Oh believe me, I am already looking at other carriers. Although I love my rollover minutes, and verizon's cheapest data is 2gb for 30 bucks; what a rip. I just need 200 mb

[Mister Xiado]

Limited messaging packages have been expired for reasons unknown.

I use maybe 40 messages per month. I have unlimited. I am wasting money. What I really need is oh, maybe some sort of mythical 200 message package for perhaps, $5, and maybe some sort of very limited minute plan. Oops, I won't live to be 65, so I'm not allowed to have the 200 minute package.

[yoga.flame]

Originally Posted by Mister Xiado

Oops, I won't live to be 65, so I'm not allowed to have the 200 minute package.

Ha. I think it's nice to give old people discounts on donuts and flowers, but their own texting plans?

Without the taxes we pay in order to fund old people's Social Security they couldn't even afford you, AT&T! Where's our love and exclusive (read: no old people allowed) texting package for that!?

[corbintechboy]

Originally Posted by yoga.flame

Without the taxes we pay in order to fund old people's Social Security they couldn't even afford you, AT&T! Where's our love and exclusive (read: no old people allowed) texting package for that!?

i don't really think this is a fair statement.

old people have contributed to social security as well as you do. the fact our stinking government could not keep the hands out the pot does not mean you are supporting some random bums whom just happen to be old.

sorry, i found that comment very disrespectful and uncalled for.

[chrisy520]

Get a Google Voice number and use that for free SMS. Text packages are a rip off.

http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html#

[papped]

If you had a 9810 i'd swap your contract + 9810 for my VZ contract + 9930, but you don't so...

[austriker]

I did use google voice on my android but its literally a headache on blackberry. I can't even tell who the messages are from, its terrible. And I'm not sure I could explain that I have a different number for texting to ma friends..

Idk I didn't call att yet, but has anyone had success with what I am about to attempt?

This is honestly a deal breaker and it seems all the other major carriers out there are intending to screw us (them and the banks). Tmobile has the best prices though..

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[adperdue2002]

Keep your ATT number from your friends, give them your GV number, set up GV correctly, and make sure your address book is synced to your gmail account. Google voice will work correctly, forwarding all your voice calls and sms to your BlackBerry, and give you all the caller id info to go along with it. Its how I eliminated 30 bucks to the Death Star.

[yoga.flame]

Originally Posted by corbintechboy

i don't really think this is a fair statement.

old people have contributed to social security as well as you do. the fact our stinking government could not keep the hands out the pot does not mean you are supporting some random bums whom just happen to be old.

sorry, i found that comment very disrespectful and uncalled for.

I was being facetious.

Also, Social security has no "pot," so to speak. Social security is funded by gov't bonds, and the principal and interest of those bonds are to be repaid by future generations (so yes, working folks are paying for retirees' social security checks and their awesome texting plans, all by law ). Social security has never been a pre-funded trust fund or pension that was raided and then spent elsewhere. That said, I was still joking, and, all joking aside, I love old people. What I said was meant as a jab at AT&T's policy of allowing only certain people access to a texting plan that is desirable to people of all ages.

[austriker]

Wow.

Super lame, I talked to a rep at an att store and he said its not possible. Basically the codes for messaging limiting plans are gone and its not even something that they could do and say "well we aren't supposed to but.."

Dang, I wish I'd paid attention to the removal of those texting plan options so I could be grandfathered in.

These wireless companies care less about the consumer than the big banks. And that's saying something!

I'm not sure else I can do..

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[adperdue2002]

You can eliminate all the grief with a Google voice number, and then get a text messaging block placed on your mobile line. Why pay for something when there is a better option for free?

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[austriker]

I know, I know.. I would definitetly consider that except have you tried google voice on a blackberry?? Its absolutely worthless, although I am probably a bit spoiled coming from an android phone and using it there.. But seriosuly I was using it about a month ago on my 9700 and I couldn't even tell who the messages where from (me or my friend). The UI needs to be vastly improved, unless its been updated in the last month. I just think I can't submit myself to that type of torture..

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[chrisy520]

I disagree. While Google Voice app for BlacKberry isn't as good as the Android app, it is far from useless. I used the Google Voice BlackBerry app for three years with little issue. Once in a while a text wouldn't send, it would hang, and I'd have to reboot. Other than that, it worked great 99% of the time. And it saves $20 a month! That's huge!

I don't understand why you can't tell who messages are from. When I got an SMS it would show as from a contact name if they were in my phone book, or a number if they weren't. It's not complicated at all.