Comments on: What carrier has the best txt msg plans?

Question: What carrier has the best txt msg plans?

CwgrlUp — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 13:13:14 -0800

ATTN TXT-AHOLICS! What carrier has the best text messaging plan?

I am currently pimping 2 phones because I have my own personal phone with Sprint (no txt plan) and a spare phone from my gf's mom which is a Verizon phone (unlimited txt plan, this phone is only used to txt my gf). My contract with Sprint expires this winter and I don't necessarily want to continue with them. How can I pare my situation down to one phone?

Notes: Verizon is not local where I live. I could not get a local number with them, so they are out. (I can use the OTHER phone to txt because it has unlimited roaming, but it wouldn't work as a sole phone b/c of the no local number problem.)

Local carriers for me are Alltel, Sprint and Cingular. I need unlimited texting if at all possible, but I'll take the best I can get. Thanks for any info you can provide.

By: mattoly

mattoly — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 13:15:35 -0800

I get unlimited txting for $15 a month through t-mobile. I snd/rcv about 1400 a month, so it's a no brainer for me.

By: CwgrlUp

CwgrlUp — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 13:31:47 -0800

Please, please, please note again, the only carriers I can use are ALLTEL, CINGULAR/AT&T, or SPRINT. Any other carrier would not provide me with a local number and would be of no use.

By: boomchicka

boomchicka — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 13:36:25 -0800

If you know you only have three carriers available to you, why not go on each one's site and see for yourself what the plans are? Or better yet, call each one and ask. You can sometimes get a better deal on a plan by talking to a sales rep than you can on the site.

By: twiggy

twiggy — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 13:40:25 -0800

Sprint's vision plan, for me at least, includes unlimited text messaging and is $15/mo. I signed up years ago, though, so as boomchicka suggests - just check the sites of those 3 carriers.

By: phil

phil — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 13:45:46 -0800

make sure to look up the provider's definition of unlimited. it is not unheard of for them to attach a number to it, i have seen it defined as low as 1000 messages before.

By: exogenous

exogenous — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 13:47:13 -0800

To follow up on twiggy's comment, my Sprint vision package does not include free text messaging, though it does include free email.

By: Brainy

Brainy — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 14:34:31 -0800

I second Sprint's unlimited.

I also second the snarking by Slarty and danb.

By: CwgrlUp

CwgrlUp — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 15:07:34 -0800

I have checked the web sites. Sprint's doesn't even mention a price for txt msgs.

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:31:40 -0800

[a few comments removed, take snarks to metatalk or elsewhere]

By: cajo

cajo — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:41:56 -0800

Howard Forums has info on all cell phone companies and plans out there - I'd check them out too.

Also, it's pretty easy to get a phone number in whatever exchange you're looking to get, so I wouldn't rule out any other providers other than the ones you've listed because they're not local. When I had Sprint, I had a line from Connecticut and from Chicago, all while living in Chicago, with no problem. You could also port your current # out too if you wanted (most likely).

By: hokie409

hokie409 — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 22:08:56 -0800

I realize that this is not what you asked but some people might find it useful. If you are at a computer or have a free email plan on your phone then you can send email messages to (cellphonenumber)@teleflip.com

The advantage is that you don't have to know the carrier to automatically convert the email message to a text message on any North American carrier. Then they can simply reply to their text and you get an email response.

I use it to send texts to my friends on the east coast while I'm still at work but they are not at their computers.