Sprint's SMS price hike saga

Sprint threw its customers for a bit of a loop last week when it raised its pay-per-use text messaging rate to $.15 per message, leaving some confusion as to whether users could get out of their contract without paying an early termination fee (EFT). The confusion apparently stemmed from the wording of Sprint's contact, which states that customers can be released from their contract if Sprint makes a "material change" to the service. Trouble is, Sprint didn't exactly come out and say if raising text messaging rates constituted a material change. After a short period of of uncertainty, however, CBS 13 in Sacramento claimed that the change was, in fact, a material one, and that customers could cancel their service without paying an EFT, something that was later independently confirmed by PCSIntel.com. So, if you've been looking for a chance to bail on Sprint for another carrier, here's your chance.