Comments on: Cell Phone Execs Will Face Questions On Text Messaging Price Hikes

By: Cell Phone Companies Defend Price Hikes On Text Messaging | NEWS JUNKIE POST

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:54:43 +0000

[...] NEWS JUNKIE reported on Monday that today’s hearing would seek answers from the cell phone companies on why text messaging prices have gone from costing one-cent to as much as 25-cents in just five years even though transmission of text messages costs cell phone companies less than minutes. [...]

By: ludwigk

ludwigk — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:45:36 +0000

But those text messages cost NOTHING to carriers. If you have the requisite infrastructure to take and send calls, the ability to send/receive texts comes along at no additional cost.

Here’s another breakdown (texting costs for iPhone with ATnT):

No texting plan: $.20 per text = $1310.72/ MB sent
200 texts: $.025 per text = $163.84 / MB sent
1500 texts: $.01 per text = $65.53 / MB sent

Cost for NASA to send and receive data from the Hubble Telescope:

$17.23 / MB

So somehow we can send and receive data from the DEPTHS OF SPACE for about 1/4 the price of the cheapest price-per-text tier ATnT offers, and you can’t even use the iPhone in space!

By: Cell Phone Execs Will Face Questions On Text Messaging Price Hikes …

Cell Phone Execs Will Face Questions On Text Messaging Price Hikes … — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:31:49 +0000

[...] Read more: Cell Phone Execs Will Face Questions On Text Messaging Price Hikes … [...]

By: Lawyer in text offering legal service to those suffering from asbestos cancer

Lawyer in text offering legal service to those suffering from asbestos cancer — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:03:49 +0000

[...] Cell Phone Execs Will Face Questions On Text Messaging Price Hikes … [...]

By: Dwayne

Dwayne — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:17:16 +0000

The thing is, those same companies are using the inflated costs of (out-of-plan) texts to scare people into taking larger plans than they actually need.

They have increased the cost of texting up to 20c per text in some cases, yet it is well known that the actual data costs less than a penny to send. As an example: I have a Tracfone StraightTalk PREPAID plan. 1000 minutes, 1000 texts, 30mb data for $30. This is a prepaid provider giving me a deal of say, 2c per minute talk and 1c per text. Data free. Now THAT is more fair while they are still obviously making money.

By: whatever

whatever — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:49:14 +0000

He’s a moron and a liar.

Text Messages Cost Carriers Nothing
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/12/text-messages-c/

By: Realist

Realist — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:30:39 +0000

“That’s capitalism” – well yeah, but capitalism is self-defeating when companies become large enough to price-fix a particular good or service, so it’s not a very good defense.

By: ChessTechnique

ChessTechnique — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:19:20 +0000

Cell phone bills in general are too much. However if people are still willing to pay those high prices the companies will continue to charge at those high prices. Either way, I like to play chess via text using algebraic notation.

By: Shill Killer

Shill Killer — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:21:24 +0000

The point is, they are giving us unlimited data for $30, then charging us $1,310 per megabyte? It’s extortion.

By: Dan S.

Dan S. — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:56:08 +0000

I’m sick and tired of people whining that everything must be regulated. That’s capitalism, and the government shouldn’t be determining how much profit a company can or cannot make. The fact is, if the price is over the top, people will stop using the service. If you can’t afford it, write a letter. That’s still 44 cents.