Data Plans/ texting

[d4mo]

I would like to get a smart phone but the dataplans are so outrageous that I can't justify it for the small amount I would use the data.

But one thing I don't get is how they have the balls to charge you $30 extra a month for data and then charge you even more for texting. The price that these carriers charge you for texting is ridiculous. Plus when you have a data plan you can just send emails instead of texts to get around the cost.

I read an article once, that said it's cheaper to send data to the moon than it is to send texts.

 

[krylon]

You must be on AT&T?

 

[Platypus]

If you're not going to use the data plan then what good is a smartphone to you?

 

[A5]

You must be on AT&T?

It's true for everyone but Sprint, so I'm not really sure what your point is.

 

[nageov3t]

wtb an iphone on sprint

 

[phoenix79]

It's true for everyone but Sprint, so I'm not really sure what your point is.

I pay 25.95/month for unlimited data and 400 messages (I don't do a lot of messaging) on my G1. Not everyone charges retarded amounts for data/messaging

 

[hanoverphist]

It's true for everyone but Sprint, so I'm not really sure what your point is.

my vzw account has unlimited texts on both lines, included in the plan

 

[axelfox]

Page Plus offers 1200 mins, 1200 SMS, 50 mb data

http://www.pagepluscellular.com/Online Store/Minutes/Talk n Text 1200 Card.aspx

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1598529

 

[d4mo]

If you're not going to use the data plan then what good is a smartphone to you?

Thats the thing, I'm not going to get one because of the price.

I also wish you could get a smartphone without the dataplan and just use the WiFi.

It's true for everyone but Sprint, so I'm not really sure what your point is.

Sprint has great packages and prices. Sadly there coverage area is terrible in my area.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

The amount the major carriers charge for texts is criminal. It costs them less than an equivalent phone call. Furthermore, to be charged per received text and essentially unable to refuse delivery should be illegal.

When the price fixing/class action suit comes out, I will be the first to sign up.

 

[boomhower]

This is why I love Sprint. Two lines with 1600 minutes(+ anymobile) with unlimited everything else for $110 a month. VZW is the only other carrier that has 3G in my area and for the same features that we use it would be $190 a month. The phone selection kind of sucks though. I love my Pre but an developing a serious case of Droid envy.

 

[SunnyD]

If only there were a forum for these kinds of questions...

 

[PrinceofWands]

Word. I hardly ever use minutes (maybe 250 a month, tops), but I need unlimited text/data. There's no way in hell I'm paying more than $30-40 a month for that, but most plans I find are twice that.

 

[QueBert]

If you're not going to use the data plan then what good is a smartphone to you?

I use mine mostly as a PDA, the calendar, contacts & scheduler are all great. I have data on it, but I only use it rarely. I figure it's better to have a smartphone than to carry a regular phone and my old Palm PDA together.

 

[evident]

wtb an iphone on sprint

my experience w/ sprint 4 years ago was that they were horrible on the east coast. i'd go down to the jersey shore and couldn't get coverage in some places... have they changed?

 

[frostedflakes]

The amount the major carriers charge for texts is criminal. It costs them less than an equivalent phone call. Furthermore, to be charged per received text and essentially unable to refuse delivery should be illegal.

When the price fixing/class action suit comes out, I will be the first to sign up.

I don't know about other providers, but on Alltel it was possible to block texts from being sent or received.

I'll agree that the prices are ridiculous, but that doesn't stop most people from purchasing texting plans. Cellular providers charge so much because there is no shortage of people willing to pay $10-20/mo for it.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I pay 25.95/month for unlimited data and 400 messages (I don't do a lot of messaging) on my G1. Not everyone charges retarded amounts for data/messaging

I pay less then that for data + unlimited texts on my iphone with AT&T

well, about the same actually.

 

[alfa147x]

google voice + data plan + phone that support GV Mobile (or jailbreak like me) + discount from company = $15 unlimited date and GV has free texting

ATT iPhone plan BTW

 

[Deeko]

I pay $20 for unlimited data & texting w/ tethering.

 

[rudeguy]

I would like to get a smart phone but the dataplans are so outrageous that I can't justify it for the small amount I would use the data.

But one thing I don't get is how they have the balls to charge you $30 extra a month for data and then charge you even more for texting. The price that these carriers charge you for texting is ridiculous. Plus when you have a data plan you can just send emails instead of texts to get around the cost.

I read an article once, that said it's cheaper to send data to the moon than it is to send texts.

Huh? Send data from a cell to the moon or....what?

If you aren't going to use the data plan, just pay per kB. I am the complete opposite of you, I would love to have a very minimal voice plan and unlimited data and text.

And by the way...a text message is data. Its simply an email that goes through a specific server. When I was working for Centennial I got to see their SMS server in person. I hugged it.

 

[lupi]

The amount the major carriers charge for texts is criminal. It costs them less than an equivalent phone call. Furthermore, to be charged per received text and essentially unable to refuse delivery should be illegal.

When the price fixing/class action suit comes out, I will be the first to sign up.

seeing how your phone is constantly pinged so they know you're online, text really cost them nothing.

 

[FoBoT]

tmobile combines data/text for my G1 into one charge
it does cost a lot more

 

[jlee]

my experience w/ sprint 4 years ago was that they were horrible on the east coast. i'd go down to the jersey shore and couldn't get coverage in some places... have they changed?

I haven't noticed much of a problem driving from NH to FL. Phoenix to Vegas is also great, except for a short bit near the Hoover Dam where it will drop calls for a few miles.

SERO FTW.

 

[AkumaX]

Sprint will have to pry SERO from my dead fingers before they can have it back

 

[zerocool84]

my experience w/ sprint 4 years ago was that they were horrible on the east coast. i'd go down to the jersey shore and couldn't get coverage in some places... have they changed?

Sprint is INFINITELY better than what they were. Their service is only second to Verizon but when you're on Sprint you get to roam on Verizon's network as well. It's the best of both worlds. Cheaper prices plus awesome service. AT&T is just a sorry network and it's sad that people want the iPhone so bad that they knowingly go on the worst network just to have it.