http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
I will continue to call and text with impunity !!!!!]]>May 20th 2008 8:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 9:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
I'm on AT&T too. Unfortunately, if you have a data plan (as I do), you cannot shut off sms/mms and still be able to use data. It shuts off both. So unfortunately, I'm stuck with receiving the random/drunk late-night texts from friends and ex-girlfriends.]]>May 20th 2008 9:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
Too bad it will fail miserably.

Any wireless carrier, ANY of them, allows the option to disable text messaging.

Also, why is US Cellular named in this suit? They've offered free incoming texts for as long as I can possibly remember.

Retard lawyers.]]>May 20th 2008 10:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 21st 2008 11:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
Completely false. T-Mobile (which sadly isn't being sued) will NOT let you turn off SMS has they "may need to contact you via SMS". I've tried to get it turned off so many times, and they refuse.

From their FAQ:

How can I block text messages?

At this time, there is not a way to block incoming or outgoing text messages due to system restrictions.]]>May 22nd 2008 12:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/And you might end up getting extra 3 messages per month!

But... you're charged for *received* messages? Weird, they never charged us for it here in Ukraine... They tried to charge us for incoming calls but a law closed that possibility years ago (you only pay for outgoing calls, you don't pay when you're called any more).]]>May 20th 2008 8:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
but when i lived in europe i had to pay 1 euro per outgoing message. and 1-2 euros/minute for calls (including voicemail), so i hardly used any of this. instead i used data to access gmail, which was running at about 0.015/KB, and used email for communication almost exclusively.

sad, but true state of the aggressive and horrendous costs of european cell phones. (sure, domestic everything is cheap in europe but i'm talking about international within europe; when you live in countries so small you're bound to have friends in all kinds of countries like i did)]]>May 20th 2008 9:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 21st 2008 5:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/they are charging for 12 mb download but giving like 6 (if your lucky)
]]>May 20th 2008 8:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
Um... you are allowed to stop junk mail from coming to your house. You can stop at the post office and fill out a form that prevents local circulars and anything addressed to "resident" from being delivered.]]>May 20th 2008 8:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
You used the phrase Capitalist pigs twice. Is my spider sense tingling or are you just being that blatent? God forbid someone get to keep the money that they work for. I'm sorry, but though socialism sounds nice, it doesn't work in practice. That's why most of the countries using it colapsed or are not on the fiscial world map.

Now, if you are mad at capitalism because you care for those who are in need, then I sympathize. However, if you are mad at capitalists because you think you are entitled to free health care and other government services, then I have no sympathy.

Very few places in the world have less oportunity for self betterment and advancement than the US. However, the major problem is that is coming hand in with laziness and a sense of entitlement that is causing many people to refuse to work for it.

Thing is, even though it sucks, the US is half way to socialism now and doesn't seem to be slowing down. We'll probably get a Democrat in office and we'll have socialized health care before they are out of there. So, you win.

Final note, though I'm staunchly against socialism and favor small government. I also think that those who have money should feel obligated to help those who don't. Though I include the needy in the US in that, I'm mainly thinking of the Millions throughout the world who live in poverty and might not even have clean water to drink. ]]>May 20th 2008 8:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
"socialism sounds nice, it doesn't work in practice. That's why most of the countries using it colapsed (sic) or are not on the fiscial (sic) world map."

WHAT?????
I suggest you look at the world:
America which is the most capitalist country around has a collapsing economy.
Europe where almost all the countries have socialist governments (even the "right wing" ones are far more socialist than your Democrats) has a far healthier economy than the US
China, the next largest economy is seriously left wing and they will very soon economically overtake America.
I really suggest you actually have a look around instead of swallowing what your politicians tell you, it is possible for them to be less than 100% honest.]]>May 20th 2008 9:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
First off China is not "left-wing." You could call China Marxist; however, economically, they are moving toward capitalism The places in China that are experiencing a booming economy are the newly minted free trade zones. These are booming from the capital influx and technological investment.

Now lets look at Europe. Europe, which certainly is more socialist than the US, but not that much thanks to Democrats and *gasp* George Bush, has an awful, stagnating economy. There is very little economic progress occuring in Europe outside of the strength of its currency. This is because of the poor GDP growth and oppressive unemployment, which is caused by extreme social engineering. In France, few young people get hired anymore because it is impossible to fire employees, even the bad ones.

The US's current slump is due to a market correction caused by a housing bubble and credit problems. In order to solve these credit problems, the Fed, very shortsightedly in my opinion, has precipitously dropped interest rates which has caused the devaluation of the dollar. The fed is trying to ease the pain, but right now, I think pain is exactly what this county needs. Middle Americans need to stop relying on the government to bail them out.

As for socialism/communism throughout history.
USSR - failed
The eastern block countries who came out of the shadow of Russia and developed completely open markets - flourishing
China under central planning - failed
China in the 15 new free trade zones - flourishing
Cuba - failed
North Korea - failed
East Germany - failed
Venezuela under Chavez - about to fail because he has blown all of his countries wealth on buying votes from the poor and has reinvested absolutely nothing into their oil industry and has run-off all outside investors.

Capitalism has brought more freedom to this world than any other economic system. For a starter, try reading Milton Friedman, Frederick Hayek, or maybe even Ayn Rand sometime. You could learn a lot.]]>May 20th 2008 10:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
Funny I'm standing here suggesting the same thing to you.

"Now lets look at Europe. Europe, which certainly is more socialist than the US"
Correct (for once)

"There is very little economic progress occuring in Europe"
More so than there is in the US, and by MILES AND MILES, and the lack thereof is due the the strength of the Euro moreso than its socialist leanings - in fact I can't believe I called Europe socialists in any way shape or form, only when compared to the US, a country run and wholly owned by corporations does Europe look socialist. Its like comparing a typical cloudy evening to the black hole and saying its actually pretty light

"This is because of the poor GDP growth and oppressive unemployment"
No we just established its because of the strength of the currency.


"The US's current slump is due to a market correction caused by a housing bubble and credit problems."

Partly yes, but not entirely. The US economy was heading for a collapse regardless and the credit crunch only acted as a catalyst. The truth is that there are economic cycles, and every country or region experiences them.

Except in some fucked up country, people like you are brainwashed to believe that everytime another country is in recession (however slight) its caused by socialist values and everytime your country collapses its someone else's fault (yea lets blame china or the market, or banks or the credit crunch)

"In order to solve these credit problems, the Fed, very shortsightedly in my opinion, has precipitously dropped interest rates"
The fed is run by some incredibly talented people who have proved their talen in their past work leading upto their current jobs. So forgive me if I take their predictions over some bum on the internet - after all its easy to criticize.

As for socialism/communism throughout history.
USSR - failed nothing to do with socialist, they simply were poorer than the US at the time, and would have

The eastern block countries who came out of the shadow of Russia and developed completely open markets - flourishing ]]>May 20th 2008 12:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/-----------------------------------------------

As for socialism/communism throughout history.
USSR - failed nothing to do with socialist, they simply were poorer than the US at the time, and would have

The eastern block countries who came out of the shadow of Russia and developed completely open markets - flourishing ]]>May 20th 2008 12:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
When I first got cell service, texts were free. Then .05 each, .10, .15, and now, .25

And, you *used* to be able to turn them off. My Nokia had a menu item that would disable receipt of texts. At some point, Cingular redefined the menu to remove that item.

I hope the consumers win this one. If you can't make money running a cell phone company nowadays, without gouging for text messages, you shouldn't be in business.]]>May 20th 2008 2:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
There was recently a bill in Congress that would outlaw text message spam, but lobbyists for the cellphone industry made sure the bill was killed.]]>May 20th 2008 9:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
This is one of the reasons I'm looking at switching my current plan from the unlimited incoming 500 anytime minute plan to the 500 minute SERO plan...]]>May 20th 2008 9:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
Actually, I was just at the bank, and the banker was messing with his computer for like 10 minutes. He finally said that he couldn't get the computer to text me my new password, and I spent like five minutes trying to explain to him that I don't accept them.

He kept like, talking about his phone and other phones that do receive texts.]]>May 20th 2008 9:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 10:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
But why should I have to turn off a feature which I may use because of spam? What they should do is have a feature that lets you see who sent you a message, like the phone number displayed when you get a call. You don't know the number or don't want to speak to them you don't get charged for taking the call. You do want to read what the person sent you, you delete it and don't get charged.

Then again I'm with the people that say it should be free anyway, voice mail is free granted they expect you to burn your minutes on your cell phone to access it so I guess they win either way.]]>May 20th 2008 10:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 10:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
PS: I'm At&T]]>May 20th 2008 11:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
I'm glad to be back in Europe where things are a bit more sensible on the utility and bank charging front. It doesn't stop us complaining, of course.]]>May 20th 2008 11:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 9:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 21st 2008 4:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
I used to be able to do that two years ago, but with the current Sim card not anymore.

T-Mobile customer service people listened to the issue that I addressed nicely and tried to get at least five tech-support guys to help me out.

AT&T really pisses me off. They never admit that it is their problem. I wanna sue them, anyone in?]]>May 20th 2008 8:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 8:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
Admittedly, they cant have people who just receive 1,000's of txts and calls for free.... That wouldn't make sense.]]>May 20th 2008 10:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 21st 2008 8:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
On the other hand, you signed the contract allowing them to charge you for it?]]>May 20th 2008 8:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
I agree:
- make incoming free
and !
- make it so providers have to disable incoming TXTs upon request as well. ]]>May 20th 2008 9:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/May 20th 2008 12:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/major-wireless-carriers-all-slapped-with-text-messaging-class-ac/
- I pay $100/year for 1000 rollover minutes which comes down to < $10 / month. Texts are 33c.

- Whenever you add minutes they extend the airtime at the end of expiration time. No other prepaid provider does that. (With ATT if your due date is still 6 months out, but you add more minutes, they reset the due date to that of the value you add)

- Roaming = yes. Other prepaid providers don't roam. ATT dropped roaming for prepaid phones and requires you to use GSM now. Only calling using a GSM ATT tower is very problematic next to impossible in some areas.
Whereas my CDMA TracFone roams anywhere in even the most rural areas where GSM won't come in the next 5 years, if at all.

- International calling at no extra charge!

- No credit card / credit check / SSN required.

I don't see how that's bad and don't know which provider will match it for value.
]]>May 20th 2008 1:11PM