Cingular Messaging
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Please replace this text with your own article explaining the different options that Cingular offers for text messaging, including how Instant Messaging is billed.
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Text messaging
Text Messaging is the ability of sending and receiving short messages (also called SMS) on your phone. A text message can be up to 160 characters in length. Messages sent or received that are longer than 160 characters will be delivered in multiple segments. Each segment will be billed as a separate message.
All Cingular customers with Text Messaging-capable phones are pre-activated to send and receive messages at $0.10 per message ($0.15/msg starting on 1/21/07) with no monthly charge. Or, you can sign up for a Text Messaging package.
Cingular bills for all messages whether sent or received, read or unread, solicited or unsolicited, except for those you may receive from Cingular directly marked as "CINGULAR FREE MSG". Also, any message sent or received that is longer than 160 characters will be delivered as multiple segments of up to 160 characters each. Each segment is billed as a separate message.
Messaging packages
- Messaging Starter - 200 Messages $4.99/mo
- Messaging Extreme - 3000 Messages $19.99/mo
- MEdia Basic - 400 Messages, 1MB data $9.99/mo
- MEdia Works - 1000 Messages, 5MB data $14.99/mo
You can also now add unlimited mobile to mobile messaging for an additional $5 on top of any current messaging plan. This allows you to send and receive unlimited text, picture, and video messages to any Cingular customer.
Text messaging to Multiple Users
Although your phone may allow to add multiple recipients for a single message, the message is still processed as multiple messages, one for each recipient. Therefore, messaging to multiple recipients is billed as multiple text messages. For instance, if you send a message to 5 people, your phone will actually send 5 separate messages, one for each recipient, and therefore that will count as 5 messages from your messaging package.
Picture/Video messaging
Picture/Audio/Video messaging will count towards your total messages sent/received if you have a Messaging Package just like Text Messages.
Instant messaging
Love to instant message on your computer? Now you can IM on your phone. Mobile Instant Messaging: Send and receive instant messages using the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM®) service or Yahoo! Messenger service on your compatible phone. IM Forwarding: Have your instant messages forwarded from your computer to your wireless phone. PC to Mobile Instant Messaging: Send AIM, MSN, or Yahoo! instant messages from your computer to friends and family using their 10-digit Cingular numbers.
Q. What is the cost for Instant Messaging?
A. Instant Messaging is billed at the same rate as any other text message. Therefore, Instant Messages sent or received will count towards the total of your messaging package.
Instant Messaging vs. Text Messaging
Text messages are short messages that can be sent and received on your phone.
Instant messages are short messages exchanged in real time using familiar screen names or IDs. With instant messaging, you can see who is online and available to chat, busy, and offline.
Cingular offers instant messaging with three of the most popular IM communities: AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, and MSN Messenger.
