| Aside from calling, text messaging is the feature | | | | texting is used? |
| getting the greatest use on most cell phones and | | | | If a consumer only sends/receives a few hundred |
| probably the primary reason for higher than | | | | messages per month, the cellular provider |
| expected bills. With the cost of sending a | | | | probably offers a texting feature with a cap at |
| domestic message around $.15 and receiving one | | | | 200, 300, or 500 messages which will be less |
| approximately $.10 with the typical cell phone plan, | | | | expensive than a cell phone plan that offers no |
| an avid user can rack up an exorbitant bill within | | | | limit on texting.o Does the unlimited plan include |
| days. | | | | out of network messaging? |
| Customers have struggled to reign in the costs. | | | | Many now do but some can be limited to |
| Individuals and families have instituted "call, don't | | | | messages only within the same network.o Does |
| text" rules within their household, only to find that | | | | the unlimited plan include just texting? |
| received text messages still send them over the | | | | Some of the newer unlimited texting cell phone |
| edge. In some instances, users have been able to | | | | plans include not only texting but also picture and |
| block texting from their service but then miss the | | | | video messaging which is an important distinction |
| privacy and the efficiency that texting offers. | | | | for those who use such features routinely.o Is |
| Many families have tried to quell an adolescent's | | | | there a data transfer cap? |
| texting excess by making teens responsible for | | | | Some "unlimited" plans actually cap the amount of |
| their own texting costs while others provide only | | | | data transferred and will charge additional for |
| prepaid services to assure that usage is held in | | | | amounts that exceed the cap.o Will unlimited |
| check. | | | | texting apply to all lines? |
| However, an answer to the cost of the | | | | For those who have multiple lines within their cell |
| burgeoning use of text messaging which may | | | | phone plan, it is important to know if all lines are |
| create greater family harmony while allowing | | | | covered.o Is international text messaging included |
| consumers to make full use of the feature may | | | | in the unlimited messaging? |
| come from the cellular providers. Increasingly, the | | | | In many cases it will not be, and the average $.35 |
| major players in the telecommunications industry | | | | cost per sent message can be a rude surprise if |
| are providing cell phone plans which offer options | | | | consumers are caught unaware.o Can you |
| that will cap texting expenses. Cell phone plans | | | | discontinue unlimited text messaging at any time? |
| which include unlimited texting features are | | | | In some cases, the unlimited messaging is an |
| increasingly common while adding on a more | | | | add-on feature and it can be dropped to reduce |
| predictable $10 to $20 per month to the plan | | | | the expense at any time. In other instances, the |
| cost. | | | | unlimited messaging is part of the cell phone plan |
| All "unlimited texting" cell phone plans however are | | | | itself. Some carriers allow consumers to switch |
| not necessarily equal and consumers will need to | | | | plans at will, while others do not. Consumers just |
| shop to find the plan that fits their usage. The | | | | need to know what flexibility they will or will not |
| following items are some of the major things to | | | | have during the contract period. |
| consider when comparing plans:o How much | | | | |