Home : Blogs : Mark Menzella -We build websites for Realtors : Mark's Blog

Text Messaging? $1300 please...

Text Messaging? $1300 please...

Today, cellular text messaging is more popular than it's ever been. But what most people don't realize is exactly how much they are paying for this convenience.

The maximum size of a text message is 160 characters. And the average cost to send a text message is 20 cents (unless you have an text messaging bundle option on your cellular plan). 160 characters equals 160 bytes. This means that text messaging equates to approximately $1300 per megabyte. Compare this to your $30 a month IPHONE data plan, or your $55 a month Blackberry data plan that each allow 5 GIGAbytes of data (5 gigabytes is 5,000 MEGAbytes). You can see why text messaging is a cash-cow for cellular companies.

But there are ways to control this cost. Almost all cellular carriers offer a text message bundle that you can add to your plan that gives you a select number of text messages (sent and received) per month for a flat price. This will lower your cost per text message considerably, provided you stay below your bundle limit. Some bundles also offer unlimited text messaging -- just make sure that you actually NEED unlimited text messaging.

Otherwise you are just wasting money. The word "unlimited" is often very enticing, and offers peace of mind. But if you only send and receive 100 text messages in a month, it is much more cost-effective to choose a 100-200 text message bundle rather than the unlimited bundle.

Another new option, if you have a Blackberry device with a data plan, is to use Google Voice. The Google Voice service (still in Beta) allows you, among other neat features, to send text messages to any other cellular phone by using your phone's data plan, COMPLETELY BYPASSING your cellular text messaging service, and the outrageous 20 cent per message charge. You just need to have a Google Voice phone number (currently available by invite only), and the free Google Voice Blackberry Mobile app. You can read more about it, and request an invite here:

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/google-voice-mobile-app-for-blackberry.html

Should the cellular companies start worrying? Let's hope so. Maybe they will start charging reasonable rates for text messaging.

Posted by Mark Menzella -We build websites for Realtors on 08/05/2009 02:32 PM

Comments (8)

Text Messaging in the ActiveRain Channel

text messaging, texting

Post is included in group: The Lounge at Active Rain
Post is included in group: Technology
Post is included in group: Realtors®
Post is included in group: Making Websites Work - Realtors on the Internet

8 Comments on Text Messaging? $1300 please...

AUG

I occasionlly use text messaging with clients and colleagues, but it is the ONLY way my teenagers will stay reliably in touch. If I made them call or were to leave them a voicemail, I would be sitting by the phone waiting.

So to me...texting: Priceless!

Thanks for the info today. I love texting messages

I send a ton of texts and have the unlimited package with my blackberry and Sprint.

Don't you also get charged for received texts on some plans? I never understood that, it's out of your control if someone texts you.

Good point Michael. You get charged if people send YOU texts. Just call your phone company and block them if they let you. I know T-Mobile does for free. And, pretty soon you will be getting spam texts. They have just opened up the cell phone numbers to companies sending spam texts. It will be much worse than email by this time next year, so be aware.

AUG

Holy - Too funny - Yes today's youth thinks texting is the only way to commuicate. Drives me nuts when I get a text asking how I am doing or one that enguages a long conversation. My daughter loves texting.

Michael - Yes some plans do charge both ways. I think if your plans offers unlimited, thats the only way to go for a REALTOR. You should already be getting texted leads from your website, if you should.

AUG

Do you find text leads to be valuable Mark? I can see emails being o.k., but texts just seem so impersonal. I would rather make a call.

AUG

It's all about using the prospect or client's preferred means of communication, whatever they're most comfortable with. If they text you initially, you should have no problem doing the same. I can tell you from extensive research that SMS (texts) have a much higher response rate than phone calls. I use them in my work every day for lead capture and I have a phenomenal response rate. That said, I'm not a REALTOR®, but my customers are. When they try out a demo by texting in, I contact them via SMS within 10 minutes if I'm able and they usually reply.

Leave a response…

Name:

Email:
(optional)

Comment:

What does the graphic say?