Unlimited Text Messaging

[TehJoE234797]

Starting today Cingular Wireless will now offer unlimited text messaging packages. The only catch is that the unlimited is to any other Cingular Wireless or Former AT&T Wireless customers.

Basically the way the packages works are you just pay $5 more than your existing package. If you have the Message Starter 200 for $4.99 you'll pay $9.99 for 200 txt to any non-Cingular customer and you'll get unlimited to any Cingular customer. And all other packages work the same way.

Happy Txting

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

well its a start

[Heavy Fluid]

I just added this to our account. 95% of my texting is to my wife, and vice versa. We are both pretty happy about this.

[blsemp]

If all of my son's and daughter's friends were on Cingular, I would be happy.

[wirles]

I thought I had unlimited data, text etc... all along but when I hit *3283# I get this response:

Data Remaining as of 03/09
Media Net/Internet Overage: Integrated Msgs: 192

Can anyone put that into English for me?

[TehJoE234797]

I've been trying to sale the new Unlimited text packages to customers but alot of them don't seem interested.. Not sure if it's because the unlimited is only m2m texting or what.. but regardless I have sold a few of them.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

Originally Posted by wirles

I thought I had unlimited data, text etc... all along but when I hit *3283# I get this response:

Can anyone put that into English for me?

well integrated messgaes means meassages sent/received that are included in your plan or added packages.......

[hme83]

Originally Posted by wirles

I thought I had unlimited data, text etc... all along but when I hit *3283# I get this response:



Can anyone put that into English for me?

I get a similar response - based on the wording "data remaining" in the data section of the message, and consistent with my text message usage shown in OLAM, I believe it is the number of remaining text messages you have left in the monthly allotment under your package.

As to the MediaNet/Overage response - It would be nice if they would say "unlimited"; however, I wonder if the lack of a response in that area is simply because you have "unlimited" data (as do I) - so there is no specific "remaining" amount (?).

Originally Posted by TehJoE234797

I've been trying to sale the new Unlimited text packages to customers but alot of them don't seem interested.. Not sure if it's because the unlimited is only m2m texting or what.. but regardless I have sold a few of them.

This is exactly why I have no use for it. A reduction in the text package prices or free "incoming" texts so that I could move to a smaller package would have been beneficial - this is not.

[efparri]

Originally Posted by wirles

I thought I had unlimited data, text etc... all along but when I hit *3283# I get this response:



Can anyone put that into English for me?

Don't you mean "*3282#?" For a while, the report showed Overages when it should show unlimited. Remember that until the feature is officially launched, it costs at least one message for the report.

[TehJoE234797]

Originally Posted by efparri

Don't you mean "*3282#?" For a while, the report showed Overages when it should show unlimited. Remember that until the feature is officially launched, it costs at least one message for the report.

Stuff like this is why *DATA# isn't advertised by Cingular just yet.. Still a few bugs to work out.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

Originally Posted by hme83

I get a similar response - based on the wording "data remaining" in the data section of the message, and consistent with my text message usage shown in OLAM, I believe it is the number of remaining text messages you have left in the monthly allotment under your package.

As to the MediaNet/Overage response - It would be nice if they would say "unlimited"; however, I wonder if the lack of a response in that area is simply because you have "unlimited" data (as do I) - so there is no specific "remaining" amount (?).



This is exactly why I have no use for it. A reduction in the text package prices or free "incoming" texts so that I could move to a smaller package would have been beneficial - this is not.

and like we have all said numerous times........OLAM is not all that great so far when it comes to being up to date and accurate so this is nt gonna be any different

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by TehJoE234797

I've been trying to sale the new Unlimited text packages to customers but alot of them don't seem interested.. Not sure if it's because the unlimited is only m2m texting or what.. but regardless I have sold a few of them.

I will tell you why people don't want this, they don't want to spend the extra $5.00 per line for a package that they may not use that much.
I was thinking about it if I ever decide to migrate over & it's not a deal for us, most of our SMS is to Non-Cingular customers.

Now if they would have done packages like Verizon, where in network SMS was included with a bucket of SMS for a reasonable price, people would sign up for them, and they need to offer a shared SMS package as well.

Think about it, I can get a 200 SMS package for $4.99 then add unlimited in networks SMS for an additional $5.00 a month for $9.99.
With Verizon I can get 500 SMS with unlimited in network SMS for the same price, that's 300 more SMS a month.

They also offer for $15.00 I can get 1500 SMS and for $20.00 I can get 5000 plus unlimited between Verizon customers.

With Cingular it's 200 for $9.99 or 3000 for $24.99 including the unlimited in network SMS.

Which would you go with?

I get 1000 outgoing shared SMS with unlimited incoming for a total of $23.98 a month, and I can't see spending the extra money to migrate over, I can understand why customers don't want to give Cingular/AT&T more money a month & don't forget the extra taxes on this plan upgrade.

[TehJoE234797]

Originally Posted by Fire14

I will tell you why people don't want this, they don't want to spend the extra $5.00 per line for a package that they may not use that much.
I was thinking about it if I ever decide to migrate over & it's not a deal for us, most of our SMS is to Non-Cingular customers.

Now if they would have done packages like Verizon, where in network SMS was included with a bucket of SMS for a reasonable price, people would sign up for them, and they need to offer a shared SMS package as well.

Think about it, I can get a 200 SMS package for $4.99 then add unlimited in networks SMS for an additional $5.00 a month for $9.99.
With Verizon I can get 500 SMS with unlimited in network SMS for the same price, that's 300 more SMS a month.

They also offer for $15.00 I can get 1500 SMS and for $20.00 I can get 5000 plus unlimited between Verizon customers.

With Cingular it's 200 for $9.99 or 3000 for $24.99 including the unlimited in network SMS.

Which would you go with?

I get 1000 outgoing shared SMS with unlimited incoming for a total of $23.98 a month, and I can't see spending the extra money to migrate over, I can understand why customers don't want to give Cingular/AT&T more money a month & don't forget the extra taxes on this plan upgrade.

Yeh I understand that, just saying though if you're locked into a 2 year contract then it's atleast helpful to have something like this.. I've had a few customer's that have loved it because their kids text message each other alot and it works out for them.. Hopefully they'll get a 100 % unlimited txt package but who knows....

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by TehJoE234797

Yeh I understand that, just saying though if you're locked into a 2 year contract then it's atleast helpful to have something like this.. I've had a few customer's that have loved it because their kids text message each other alot and it works out for them.. Hopefully they'll get a 100 % unlimited txt package but who knows....

I can understand that, but I would prefer using the unlimited M2M vs SMS between me & my family, but sometimes SMS between each other is needed and it is a useful feature, but I can't see spending that much on it unless it's a lot of SMS per month.
If you figure it costs 15 cents to send or receive SMS on a PPU basis and you do 30 incoming & outgoing SMS each month that's $4.50 so unless you do more then this each month then it's not worth it.


Also if your locked into a 2 year contract that means your spending an additional $120.00 + Taxes for this "helpful feature" and when you consider what it cost's Cingular to send & recieve SMS it's not really worth it to most people.

Even if they don't come out with an unlimited SMS package (which would be nice) they need to come out with either a decent shared SMS plan or even more important Better SMS plans.

[wirles]

From Sue Marek, Editor of Fierce Wireless...

Unlimited Messaging--Does it help or hinder data ARPU?
During the first quarter, all the tier 1 operators have tweaked their data messaging price plans. Some of this trend may be part of the me-too competitive mentality of the Tier 1s, but it also may be part of a bigger picture.

Data now accounts for about 10 percent of most operators' revenues. And we know that messaging makes up the lion share of all data traffic on the network. While mobile entertainment companies like to position their content and services as a way for operators to jump-start data revenue, so far the contribution of video, music and other mobile entertainment content to the bottom line has been limited, at best.

But now operators are experimenting with different pricing options to drive more SMS traffic. Cingular earlier this month added unlimited in-network messaging for $5 per month to customers who subscribe to either a messaging bundle or data plan. Meanwhile, Verizon's data messaging plans start at $10 per month for 500 messaging and that includes unlimited in-network messaging. T-Mobile has an unlimited messaging plan to any number for $15 per month and Sprint has a similar plan for $10 per month.

At the same time operators have hiked up their per-message prices for people who don't subscribe to a bucket messaging plan. The industry standard at one time was 10 cents per message and now it's inching upwards to 15 cents per message and 25 cents for a video message.

But will these subtle price changes impact data ARPU? Current Analysis analyst William Ho says in a research note that unlimited mobile-to-mobile messaging packages complement the voice mobile-to-mobile calling plans and he believes it will stimulate messaging traffic and enable viral adoption of messaging services.

However he also notes that while some operators, particularly T-Mobile, have created a better value proposition for customers with their messaging bundles, few customers actually switch operators because of the messaging packages offered. While we know that customers churn if they perceive a better value in a voice package, it's interesting that they haven't yet started to churn for a better messaging bundle.

Unlimited messaging plans seem to be following the slippery slope of bundled voice plans--where lower prices increase usage and adoption, but eventually lead to the service becoming a commodity. In the long run, where does that leave operators? How will they differentiate their data services from the competition?

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

Originally Posted by wirles

From Sue Marek, Editor of Fierce Wireless...

Unlimited Messaging--Does it help or hinder data ARPU?
During the first quarter, all the tier 1 operators have tweaked their data messaging price plans. Some of this trend may be part of the me-too competitive mentality of the Tier 1s, but it also may be part of a bigger picture.

Data now accounts for about 10 percent of most operators' revenues. And we know that messaging makes up the lion share of all data traffic on the network. While mobile entertainment companies like to position their content and services as a way for operators to jump-start data revenue, so far the contribution of video, music and other mobile entertainment content to the bottom line has been limited, at best.

But now operators are experimenting with different pricing options to drive more SMS traffic. Cingular earlier this month added unlimited in-network messaging for $5 per month to customers who subscribe to either a messaging bundle or data plan. Meanwhile, Verizon's data messaging plans start at $10 per month for 500 messaging and that includes unlimited in-network messaging. T-Mobile has an unlimited messaging plan to any number for $15 per month and Sprint has a similar plan for $10 per month.

At the same time operators have hiked up their per-message prices for people who don't subscribe to a bucket messaging plan. The industry standard at one time was 10 cents per message and now it's inching upwards to 15 cents per message and 25 cents for a video message.

But will these subtle price changes impact data ARPU? Current Analysis analyst William Ho says in a research note that unlimited mobile-to-mobile messaging packages complement the voice mobile-to-mobile calling plans and he believes it will stimulate messaging traffic and enable viral adoption of messaging services.

However he also notes that while some operators, particularly T-Mobile, have created a better value proposition for customers with their messaging bundles, few customers actually switch operators because of the messaging packages offered. While we know that customers churn if they perceive a better value in a voice package, it's interesting that they haven't yet started to churn for a better messaging bundle.

Unlimited messaging plans seem to be following the slippery slope of bundled voice plans--where lower prices increase usage and adoption, but eventually lead to the service becoming a commodity. In the long run, where does that leave operators? How will they differentiate their data services from the competition?

well shes wrong about the bold. Sprint unlimited is $15 as well.........but i think that Sprint should go for IN Messaging.......it would be a good thing........

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by wirles

From Sue Marek, Editor of Fierce Wireless...

Unlimited Messaging--Does it help or hinder data ARPU?
During the first quarter, all the tier 1 operators have tweaked their data messaging price plans. Some of this trend may be part of the me-too competitive mentality of the Tier 1s, but it also may be part of a bigger picture.

Data now accounts for about 10 percent of most operators' revenues. And we know that messaging makes up the lion share of all data traffic on the network. While mobile entertainment companies like to position their content and services as a way for operators to jump-start data revenue, so far the contribution of video, music and other mobile entertainment content to the bottom line has been limited, at best.

But now operators are experimenting with different pricing options to drive more SMS traffic. Cingular earlier this month added unlimited in-network messaging for $5 per month to customers who subscribe to either a messaging bundle or data plan. Meanwhile, Verizon's data messaging plans start at $10 per month for 500 messaging and that includes unlimited in-network messaging. T-Mobile has an unlimited messaging plan to any number for $15 per month and Sprint has a similar plan for $10 per month.

At the same time operators have hiked up their per-message prices for people who don't subscribe to a bucket messaging plan. The industry standard at one time was 10 cents per message and now it's inching upwards to 15 cents per message and 25 cents for a video message.

But will these subtle price changes impact data ARPU? Current Analysis analyst William Ho says in a research note that unlimited mobile-to-mobile messaging packages complement the voice mobile-to-mobile calling plans and he believes it will stimulate messaging traffic and enable viral adoption of messaging services.

However he also notes that while some operators, particularly T-Mobile, have created a better value proposition for customers with their messaging bundles, few customers actually switch operators because of the messaging packages offered. While we know that customers churn if they perceive a better value in a voice package, it's interesting that they haven't yet started to churn for a better messaging bundle.

Unlimited messaging plans seem to be following the slippery slope of bundled voice plans--where lower prices increase usage and adoption, but eventually lead to the service becoming a commodity. In the long run, where does that leave operators? How will they differentiate their data services from the competition?

Thanks for a good article, too bad they didn't go further into Cingular & Verizon's SMS plans to show their difference. Being T-Mobile & SprintNextel have the unlimited plans I don't think they need to compare them to the other 2, to show they have the better deal.

Originally Posted by SmArTeStChIlD421

well shes wrong about the bold. Sprint unlimited is $15 as well.........but i think that Sprint should go for IN Messaging.......it would be a good thing........

I thought it was $15.00 but started to doubt myself.
As for the IN Messaging, I guess for the lower priced SMS plans it could be an option, but obviously it would be a moot point with the $15.00 one.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

Originally Posted by Fire14

Thanks for a good article, too bad they didn't go further into Cingular & Verizon's SMS plans to show their difference. Being T-Mobile & SprintNextel have the unlimited plans I don't think they need to compare them to the other 2, to show they have the better deal.



I thought it was $15.00 but started to doubt myself.
As for the IN Messaging, I guess for the lower priced SMS plans it could be an option, but obviously it would be a moot point with the $15.00 one.

yeah.........kinda defeats the purpose

but maybe they could allow customers to add unlimited M2M messaging for $5..........similar to what Cingy is doing

[army1]

we are waiting for this to be offered on family plans where we can sshare 1 package,if it's nerver offered then hey we have lived without it so far.