Cingular to offer Unlimited in network SMS for $5.00 additional

[Fire14]

Cingular to offer $5 unlimited in-network messaging option

Cingular Wireless L.L.C. is upping the ante in the messaging game with plans to offer an unlimited in-network messaging plan to rival similar offerings from Verizon Wireless and others. The offering will allow existing or new Cingular customers who subscribe to either a messaging bundle or data plan to add unlimited in-network messaging to their service for $5 per month.

Cingular plans to introduce the new option Sunday.

Cingular’s new option will only be available to customers who purchase a messaging or data bundle. Thus, a customer who purchases Cingular’s $5 “messaging starter” plan, which includes 200 messages to any number, would be able to add an unlimited in-network messaging option to that plan for an additional $5. The same is true for customers of Cingular’s data-access plans, including “MEdia Basic” and MEdia Works.”

The in-network option, similar to the in-network calling option available from most carriers, allows Cingular customers to send unlimited messages to any other Cingular subscriber. The offering covers text, picture and video messages, but not instant messages.

Verizon Wireless’ messaging plans include unlimited in-network messaging and start at $10 for 500 messages to any number. T-Mobile USA Inc. offers an unlimited messaging option to any number for $15, while Sprint Nextel offers an unlimited messaging plan to any number for $10.

http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...2011/1002/FREE

[hf1khal]

This is for sure a step in the right direction. Now one thing I wonder, would this apply to Blackberry data plan too? Not that I would need it but this would be good for many BB users.

[bobolito]

FINALLY! They are catching up with the rest of the world!

So, Fire, what do you think? Will something like this make you switch to an orange plan?

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by Fire14

Cingular to offer $5 unlimited in-network messaging option

Cingular Wireless L.L.C. is upping the ante in the messaging game with plans to offer an unlimited in-network messaging plan to rival similar offerings from Verizon Wireless and others. The offering will allow existing or new Cingular customers who subscribe to either a messaging bundle or data plan to add unlimited in-network messaging to their service for $5 per month.

It is definitely a step in the right direction even though it does not help me much and is probably not worth it for me personally. I only text with 7 people:

Sprint - 1
Verizon - 2
T-Mobile - 2
Cingular - 2

Ranking them (there is a sizeable gap between the first two) it would be:

Sprint
Cingular
Verizon
T-Mobile
T-Mobile
Cingular
Verizon.

[Kalimotxo]

sweet! def a step in the right direction... i'll be adding it to my plan today.

[Andy]

That sounds like a step in the right direction! It's about time Cingular does this, because like Verizon's plans, this will make more people switch over to be "IN".
Having Cingular's lowest message bundle at $5, plus adding the unlimited M2M SMS would bring it to $10 for UNL Cing to CING and 200 to other people, not as good as Verizon, but depending on whom you send most of your SMS to, it may be the best choice for you.
Still, though, truly unlimited messaging bundles, especially T-Mobile's Unlimited Texting for Families is very tempting.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by bobolito

FINALLY! They are catching up with the rest of the world!

So, Fire, what do you think? Will something like this make you switch to an orange plan?

It's in the right direction, since all of my lines are off contract this coming Thursday, I don't know if I would rather stay Month 2 Month, or sign up for new toy(s) I mean phones and spend what would be an extra $30-40.00 a month on my bill.
I actually need to work this out to see if it would be a good value or not due to who we are texting.
I wonder if the SMS I send on race days to Cingular would be counted as regular SMS or Unlimited in SMS?

[Kalimotxo]

"Unlimited Mobile to Mobile Messaging: Includes unlimited text, picture, and video messages between AT&T wireless customers sent or received while on the AT&T wireless owned network. Instant Messages and any other usage not expressly included herein will be debited from your package's messaging allowance. A subscription to one of the current Message Packages or MEdia Bundles is required."

So this means that if you are roaming, the in network texting does not apply?

[dmapr]

Originally Posted by Wumpusva

"Unlimited Mobile to Mobile Messaging: Includes unlimited text, picture, and video messages between AT&T wireless customers sent or received while on the AT&T wireless owned network. Instant Messages and any other usage not expressly included herein will be debited from your package's messaging allowance. A subscription to one of the current Message Packages or MEdia Bundles is required."

So this means that if you are roaming, the in network texting does not apply?

Certainly sounds that way to me, but since Cingular doesn't normally show when you're roaming domestically, they'd have a very hard time enforcing this.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by Wumpusva

"Unlimited Mobile to Mobile Messaging: Includes unlimited text, picture, and video messages between AT&T wireless customers sent or received while on the AT&T wireless owned network. Instant Messages and any other usage not expressly included herein will be debited from your package's messaging allowance. A subscription to one of the current Message Packages or MEdia Bundles is required."

So this means that if you are roaming, the in network texting does not apply?

That is the way I understand it

Originally Posted by dmapr

Certainly sounds that way to me, but since Cingular doesn't normally show when you're roaming domestically, they'd have a very hard time enforcing this.

I agree you can fight this big time with them, to make them prove you knew you were not on the AT&T network.
I wonder how long till that does become an issue for customers & how it will go fighting AT&T on this?

[hf1khal]

Originally Posted by Fire14

That is the way I understand it



I agree you can fight this big time with them, to make them prove you knew you were not on the AT&T network.
I wonder how long till that does become an issue for customers & how it will go fighting AT&T on this?

They could very well use the 40%/2 month roaming rule on this too.

[bobolito]

It irritates me how AT&T acts as if text messaging costs them a fortune to carry messaging traffic so that they have to dishonor the IN feature while roaming. That's insane! Voice causes so much more traffic and it is cheaper.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by bobolito

It irritates me how AT&T acts as if text messaging costs them a fortune to carry messaging traffic so that they have to dishonor the IN feature while roaming. That's insane! Voice causes so much more traffic and it is cheaper.

It's the greed factor, they want to make more money off all of their customers & are doing it any way they can. I wish it could have been like Verizon where it's one price for Unlimited in networks SMS with a bucket of SMS to other carriers networks & votes/polls.

[dmapr]

Originally Posted by bobolito

It irritates me how AT&T acts as if text messaging costs them a fortune to carry messaging traffic so that they have to dishonor the IN feature while roaming. That's insane! Voice causes so much more traffic and it is cheaper.

It's probably going to cost them more in customer service calls from people with billing questions than to allow unlimited "no strings attached" messaging if they try to enforce this policy.