The cost of Text Messages [UK]

[VincentAnoid]

Does anyone agree with my point made here?

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Chad: Hi I'm Chad. How can I help?
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John: Are there any unlimited text bolt ons for O2 Pay and Go?
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Chad: In Simplicity tariff at

 

[VincentAnoid]

Here is a article supporting my arguement.

AT&T's New Text Plan Overcharges You by 10,000,000 Percent. Literally.

 

[!on]

Why are we still paying so much for text messages despite how little network power they use in comparison to something like internet or phone calls? I'm still waiting for a network that charges their customers in accordance to how much 'disruption' (Bandwidth use) is caused to the network.

Probably because they're still rolling out the data network across the country (mostly strengthening signal), they use one thing to fund the other. That & they're also considering 4g?

Usage & disruption would be hard to pin down, they can guess certain peak times like the national grid does with leccy, but there are also spikes at locations such as festivals. What about down time? Maybe they should give us free texts on the 2g when doing maintenence on the 3g. It's a bit like rail companies doing cheap tickets on maintenence day when you get the inconvenience of a bus.

Anyway, most carriers are only interested in one thing - income from us. 500 texts & unlimited data sounds about right in smartphone terms as we can play with our toys (youtube et al) to our hearts content, most people never think of the price of texts. On pre-pay it's even worse as some carriers dangle TWO (!) free texts in front of us for topping up that then expire after a day or so. I could just use the data network for IM.

I don't think it's so bad as you read the contract before signing or choose a prepay tariff. I'm sure we are seeing a shift away from SMS with things like BB messenger, facebook, twitter, & like to think that work continues to make the data network stronger.

 

[VincentAnoid]

I've never thought of it that way you know but I figured they were overcharging for text messages. And yes I agree they should give us free texts etc but then that wouldn't give us an incentive to do business with them by paying for such services.

500 texts & unlimited data sounds about right in smartphone terms as we can play with our toys (youtube et al) to our hearts content, most people never think of the price of texts.

Where do you get Unlimited data lol, well I only know Three have it.. but that's

 

[SUroot]

Text messages don't use the data network. They actually travel over the gsm voice band so why they're comparing it to YouTube data charges is beyond me. Sms charges have been the same for 15 years. That's how much they are

 

[VincentAnoid]

With mobile infrastructure changing, 2G to 3G and now soon to be 3G to 4G. You'd think they would upgrade their 'GSM Voice band' as well. Well I would assume there would be better call clarity for a start.