Todd Allcock wrote:
>
>
> "Ernie" <frustrated.user@nowhere.now> wrote in message
> news:7c8sr3pteo4iub8d4mgajumn39va9u0ij9@4ax.com...
>>
>> But, after calling AT&T Customer Service about Spam text messages, I
>> was told they have a new "Smart Text" plan .. where I could specify
>> which phone numbers I would accept text messages .. for an additional
>> $4.99/month ...
>
> That's priceless! I expect they'll offer a similar $4.99 add-on that
> credits you for wrong numbers soon! ;-)

Hey, this is AT&T after all. They learned about this sort of fee decades
ago when they began charging subscribers to not print their name and
number in the telephone directory (though originally there was some
justification for the charge because directory assistance was free and
unlisted numbers caused more DA calls).

Does AT&T have something similar to Verizon where you can specify a
nickname (nickname@vtext.com) and only accept text messages sent to that
nickname? You give out your nickname to those that you'll accept text
messages from, but you make it unique enough that no one would guess it
otherwise.