T-Mobile initiates per-message SMS rate hike
Here we go again. T-Mobile has just quietly announced that they will be raising their per-message SMS fees to 20 cents from the current 15 cent benchmark effective August 29th. Sure, they’re merely responding to the current industry average price, but when you’re hailed as one of the most value-oriented carriers in the country, a move like this could have some pretty negative implications. Of course, this raises the age old question for T-Mobile subscribers looking for a back door out of their contract: will I be able to leave without incurring an ETF? This all depends on who you talk to, but these rate hikes are generally seen as material breaches of contract on the carrier side which, assuming you push hard enough, will usually result in an ETF-free departure. As always, we don’t advocate this sort of buffoonery, but if you’ve been itching to try out another carrier’s airwaves, this might be the right time to step up to the plate. Oh, and nice timing T-Mobile. No one was hoping for an added incentive to shift over to the iPhone 3G’s network of choice.
if you can’t afford adding a message bundle to your tmobile account good luck finding the mony to spend on the Iphone.
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@jhslim Amen to that
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John J. : I didn’t miss his point at all.In fact, I acknowledged that it was a great response, albeit to a point that wasn’t made. Remember, he began his post with this:
“Why would one want to cancel Tmobile account and move to AtT just because the cost of SMS went up by $0.05?”
This is simply not representative of the original blog entry, which spoke only of the price change being an “added incentive.” So to summarize, no, I didn’t miss his point, but you clearly missed mine.
Cheers.
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*yawn*
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can i still try to cancel if i have an unlimited message bundle?
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I’ve been waiting for these fools to do something like this. I”ve had t-m for a year and it’s the absolute worst.
Dropped calls, no coverage, can’t get a signal in my house and I’m within 10 miles of downtown LA.
By the time these clowns get a 3G network up in the USA, ATT, Sprint and Big Red will have video calling to freakin Mars.
Goodbye t-mobile and thanks for saving me the
ETF’s
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can I still cancel my service even with my criminal record??
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gadgetchic, I agree with the sidekicks being not so good, but other devices are great, have a curve and everything is great
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BJsGuess, it is still a waste to switch over this since most people already have a messaging plan! plus tmobile has the best rated service of all carriers
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Do you have an actual link to where this is posted? Following the read link to Engadget, and then to Engadget Mobile, their ‘link’ just wants me to login to my.tmobile.com.
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Perspective: Good catch, but I was responding to David’s steps on how to cancel the account on basis on increased SMS costs.
chuck: the pros and cons of 3G iPhone is an ongoing debate with no conclusion in sight. To each his own. I’d rather save a few bucks than have the best web browsing phone. Isn’t that the only solid point of 3G iPhone?
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…the Blue Death Star…lol…classic!
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Can I cancel my umlimited texting now and then cancel the contract in August?
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T-Mobile not competitive? Next on the chopping block……let me get some of that shit you are smoking. Not only does T-Mobile have the best customer service by far, the rate plans cannot be touched by any carrier, $10 a month unlimited home phone service, $10 a month unlimited wi-fi calling that you can even use world wide and not cost you a dime when calling back to america. Sure the phone selection hasnt been the greatest, but its getting better…. the year isn’t even over yet. You will be surprised at some of the phones t-mobile is coming out with. Tell me what carrier doesnt make you bend over the table with a 500-1000 deposit if you have jacked up credit?(looking at you Verizon and ATT) And if any carrier is next on the chopping block its Sprint/Nextel…… they lost over a MILLION customers in 1 quarter. Some of you people are so infatuated with the iphone, you let ATT and Apple bend you over with no lube and smile about it. The device has its pluses, but other than web my 8120 does everything better…..and when the skyfire browser comes out with inline video/audio/ flash support the iphone wont hold a candle to any new wm/blackberry/android device. i would like to be a fly on the wall in a att store when all the uninformed idiots go in and find out they have to sign a 2 year to get that shiny new iphone or dont qualify/ have to pay 750 deposit to sign that 2 year contract…… Epic Fail. Of course then we will have the influx of unlocked 3g iphones coming to activate at t-mobile where people can actually get quality service and not take out a second mortgage for a deposit……and before you bitch about the 3g bands not working on t-mobile the only people who give a crap about 3g are people who live on these blogs and tech websites……80% of the general public could care less about 3g data, especially with the vast aboundance of wi-fi hotspots(unless you live in the sticks, which in that case you most likely wouldnt have coverage except maybe with verizon)
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Reason 4) 3G and 3G enabled WM Pro phones
not available on T-Mo still !
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“By the time these clowns get a 3G network up in the USA, ATT, Sprint and Big Red will have video calling to freakin Mars.”
Classic
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it works! you’re only not eligible with an unlimited msg plan, otherwise, just keep trying and keep calling until you get someone reasonable that will do it for you. I just got my ETF waiver and 30 days to port my number! i did want to stay with tmobile though, but had no reception at the place I moved into…
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T-Mobile just won an “award” for having the most text messages per user on their network. Customers with text plans are happier customers because their bills are streamlined and do not fluctuate…
So i think it’s the opposite of a stupid move. It promotes text plan attatchment rates, because let’s face it, we as a planet rely on text more than ever.
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I just called and it took just 15min. This is bad timing for t-mobile. I was going to stay till jan when my contract was going to expire, but hello iphone next week.
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Have fun with att and their jacked up billing system, not to mention that crazy high plan you have to get.
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with t-mobile i was paying $60 with a treo 680, with the iphone I only pay $10 more and i get 3g internet not go-slow edge.
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Good job at putting a positive image on your company. Just the thought that I would have to deal with an asshole like you would keep me away from T-Mobile.
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Jeebus criminey, people. Calm down.
I just noticed the unremarkable note on my.t-mobile.com home screen today and thought, “YES.” Because now I can get out of the contract. And here is why I want to do it:
I don’t use my phone nearly enough to make the money per month worth it. I am on their lowest plan and rarely do I use even a quarter of my minutes.
That’s it. I don’t want an iPhone. I know I would never use any of its features enough to justify the price tag. I don’t hate T-Mobile any more than I hate all the other companies. (They’re all bad. Period.) I just can’t justify spending $35 bucks a month on something I rarely use. (Uh, same thing goes for the tanning salon which reminds me, I need to cancel that, too…) For a while I have wanted to drop T-Mobile but I have a long time left on my contract and I was not about to spend $300 to get out (or whatever the exorbitant ETF is). I knew that if they changed any of their fees, I could get off scot-free.
I’m going to cancel, maybe tomorrow morning if they’re open on the 4th (likely since I’m betting their call centers aren’t located in the good ol’ US of A) and if not, then the next day they’re open. Then I’m going to find some cheap-o per-minute thing, maybe even T-Mob’s per minute thing. I know for most of you, a per-minute thing is throwing money down the drain!!!!! But for me…a plan is throwing money down the drain. And rarely do I get text messages (except for the 25 spam text I got and had to freaking pay for, thanks a lot T-mobile, in March) so bundling anything is worthless to my poor, unpopular self.
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Okay so I calledd…. I have a messaging plan.. never over used.. but had a intl. text message which they charge seperately.. so the supervisor tells me that i do not qualify because the international text messaging rate chaneg is not a material change… and after about 45mins of arguing.. he put in my account that i will try to cancel my messaging plan to so i can qualify for the ETF waiver.
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I think your able to cancel even if you do have the bundle, the only thing is you cant have unlimited because that would not effect you. Any other bundle will because if you go over the alotted text window you will be responsible to pay that .20 cents
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