The following SMS turned up on my T-Mo handset Thursday:
| T-Mobile will no longer offer scheduled or on demand
| SMS (text) alerts as of 10.13.2009. Your other T-Mobile
| services will not be affected by this change.
|
| Sender: 456
| Sent: 2009.10.08::15:24:00
I found next to nothing in the T-Mo Forums on this.
A CC rep at 611 claimed these announcements had been
getting sent out since October 1. Short notice, no?
Any hope T-Mo might rescind this decision, same as they
pulled back on their $1.50 surcharge for paper billing?
What would it take to accomplish that?
On Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:52:17 -0400, tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net>
wrote in <op.u1itdfuvo63xbg@acer250.gateway.2wire.net>:
>The following SMS turned up on my T-Mo handset Thursday:
>
>| T-Mobile will no longer offer scheduled or on demand
>| SMS (text) alerts as of 10.13.2009. Your other T-Mobile
>| services will not be affected by this change.
>|
>| Sender: 456
>| Sent: 2009.10.08::15:24:00
>
>I found next to nothing in the T-Mo Forums on this.
>A CC rep at 611 claimed these announcements had been
>getting sent out since October 1. Short notice, no?
>
>Any hope T-Mo might rescind this decision, same as they
>pulled back on their $1.50 surcharge for paper billing?
>What would it take to accomplish that?
I doubt it will be reversed. T-Mobile is clearly under pressure to
improve results, and I don't think T-Mobile thinks Alerts is an
important feature, as reflected in the lack of complaints on the Forums.
Here's the official notice:
Notice to Alerts Service
T-Mobile is discontinuing the alerts service on October 13th, 2009.
You may continue to manage alerts until that time, but please
understand the service will no longer operate after October 13th,
2009.
You can of course still use other sources for alerts. If you look
around, I think you'll find good alternatives for most if not all of the
Alerts you want. For example, I use Filters to selectively forward
email to my mobile.
--
Best regards,
John <http:/navasgroup.com>
If the iPhone is really so impressive,
why do iFans keep making excuses for it?
At 09 Oct 2009 02:52:17 -0400 tlvp wrote:
> The following SMS turned up on my T-Mo handset Thursday:
>
> | T-Mobile will no longer offer scheduled or on demand
> | SMS (text) alerts as of 10.13.2009. Your other T-Mobile
> | services will not be affected by this change.
> |
> | Sender: 456
> | Sent: 2009.10.08::15:24:00
>
> I found next to nothing in the T-Mo Forums on this.
> A CC rep at 611 claimed these announcements had been
> getting sent out since October 1. Short notice, no?
>
> Any hope T-Mo might rescind this decision, same as they
> pulled back on their $1.50 surcharge for paper billing?
> What would it take to accomplish that?
>
> Cheers, -- tlvp
More than the seven or eight current users actively using the service?
As John pointed out, there are plenty of alternatives, many from content
providers themselves- you want a text about the weather, I'd imagine the
Weather Channel and accuweather websites offers them. Sports scores? I
bet the sports teams' websites do that. My local TV station alerts me
about local weather developments and school closings (which I receive as
push-email instead of texts to avooid a la carte text charges.)
While I'm sure some people actively use these alerts and find them useful,
they're a throwback to the old days where all your mobile internet content
was delivered from a "walled garden" provided by your mobile operator, and
not the entire internet at large.
And from a purely selfish point-of-view (T-Mo's, not mine!) T-Mo started
this service when text-messaging was not widely used, at least not as
widely used as today. The service was probably offered as an inticement to
use text messaging to a public that, at the time, wondered why anyone would
pay a nickel or a dime to send or receive a short message when they had a
giant bucket of unused voice minutes sitting in front of them they'd
already paid for.
Now that "everyone" texts, and most customers have bought text messaging
plans, the gimmick of providing alerts as a "baby step" to turn voice users
into text users is simpy no longer needed. Plus, with buckets of texts
available to users, each alert no longer generates the a la carte nickels
and dimes they did a decade ago.
On Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:05:24 -0400, John Navas <spamfilter1@navasgroup.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:52:17 -0400, tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net>
> wrote in <op.u1itdfuvo63xbg@acer250.gateway.2wire.net>:
>
>> The following SMS turned up on my T-Mo handset Thursday:
>>
>> | T-Mobile will no longer offer scheduled or on demand
>> | SMS (text) alerts as of 10.13.2009. Your other T-Mobile
>> | services will not be affected by this change.
>> |
>> | Sender: 456
>> | Sent: 2009.10.08::15:24:00
>>
>> I found next to nothing in the T-Mo Forums on this.
>> A CC rep at 611 claimed these announcements had been
>> getting sent out since October 1. Short notice, no?
>>
>> Any hope T-Mo might rescind this decision, same as they
>> pulled back on their $1.50 surcharge for paper billing?
>> What would it take to accomplish that?
>
> I doubt it will be reversed. T-Mobile is clearly under pressure to
> improve results, and I don't think T-Mobile thinks Alerts is an
> important feature, as reflected in the lack of complaints on the Forums.
> Here's the official notice:
>
> Notice to Alerts Service
>
> T-Mobile is discontinuing the alerts service on October 13th, 2009.
> You may continue to manage alerts until that time, but please
> understand the service will no longer operate after October 13th,
> 2009.
>
> You can of course still use other sources for alerts. If you look
> around, I think you'll find good alternatives for most if not all of the
> Alerts you want. For example, I use Filters to selectively forward
> email to my mobile.
Hi, John,
Found this response on the Forums a little while ago, thanks
(and thanks for the follow-on responses there, too). Cheers,
On Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:29:34 -0400, Todd Allcock <elecconnec@anoospaml.com> wrote:
> At 09 Oct 2009 02:52:17 -0400 tlvp wrote:
>> The following SMS turned up on my T-Mo handset Thursday:
>>
>> | T-Mobile will no longer offer scheduled or on demand
>> | SMS (text) alerts as of 10.13.2009. Your other T-Mobile
>> | services will not be affected by this change.
>> |
>> | Sender: 456
>> | Sent: 2009.10.08::15:24:00
>>
>> I found next to nothing in the T-Mo Forums on this.
>> A CC rep at 611 claimed these announcements had been
>> getting sent out since October 1. Short notice, no?
>>
>> Any hope T-Mo might rescind this decision, same as they
>> pulled back on their $1.50 surcharge for paper billing?
>> What would it take to accomplish that?
>>
>> Cheers, -- tlvp
>
>
> More than the seven or eight current users actively using the service?
>
> As John pointed out, there are plenty of alternatives, many from content
> providers themselves- you want a text about the weather, I'd imagine the
> Weather Channel and accuweather websites offers them. Sports scores? I
> bet the sports teams' websites do that. My local TV station alerts me
> about local weather developments and school closings (which I receive as
> push-email instead of texts to avooid a la carte text charges.)
>
> While I'm sure some people actively use these alerts and find them useful,
> they're a throwback to the old days where all your mobile internet content
> was delivered from a "walled garden" provided by your mobile operator, and
> not the entire internet at large.
>
> And from a purely selfish point-of-view (T-Mo's, not mine!) T-Mo started
> this service when text-messaging was not widely used, at least not as
> widely used as today. The service was probably offered as an inticement to
> use text messaging to a public that, at the time, wondered why anyone would
> pay a nickel or a dime to send or receive a short message when they had a
> giant bucket of unused voice minutes sitting in front of them they'd
> already paid for.
>
> Now that "everyone" texts, and most customers have bought text messaging
> plans, the gimmick of providing alerts as a "baby step" to turn voice users
> into text users is simpy no longer needed. Plus, with buckets of texts
> available to users, each alert no longer generates the a la carte nickels
> and dimes they did a decade ago.
Thanks, Todd. You don't think there are enough "old farts" like me,
who don't text actively but *did* take up a bucket of texts so as to
receive such text alerts daily, on a variety of topics, who may cancel
their buckets of texts, to impact their desire to maintain revenue?
I know mobile.msn.com *used* to offer to send daily SMS texts on a variety
of topics, and I had signed up for some of those, but they stopped coming in
many moons ago, and I've been unable to find where to reactivate them (or if
that's even still possible :-) ).
I've now found a "4info" site that promises free push SMS texts, but
I'll wait until I learn better what they'll do with my cellular number.
Oh, and thanks for your Weather Channel suggestion, too.
On Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:29:34 -0400, Todd Allcock <elecconnec@anoospaml.com> began:
> At 09 Oct 2009 02:52:17 -0400 tlvp wrote:
>> The following SMS turned up on my T-Mo handset Thursday:
>>
>> | T-Mobile will no longer offer scheduled or on demand
>> | SMS (text) alerts as of 10.13.2009. Your other T-Mobile
>> | services will not be affected by this change.
>> |
>> | Sender: 456
>> | Sent: 2009.10.08::15:24:00
>>
>> I found next to nothing in the T-Mo Forums on this.
>> A CC rep at 611 claimed these announcements had been
>> getting sent out since October 1. Short notice, no?
>>
>> Any hope T-Mo might rescind this decision, same as they
>> pulled back on their $1.50 surcharge for paper billing?
>> What would it take to accomplish that?
>>
>> Cheers, -- tlvp
>
>
> More than the seven or eight current users actively using the service?
>
Actually, Todd, the CC rep I spoke with on the 611 line, to find out
whether the announcement texted to my handset was for real or not,
indicated that she too would be let down, as she had been getting
devotional and inspirational messages texted to her through that
service.
So maybe a few more "current users" than just "seven or eight" :-) .
> Actually, Todd, the CC rep I spoke with on the 611 line, to find out
> whether the announcement texted to my handset was for real or not,
> indicated that she too would be let down, as she had been getting
> devotional and inspirational messages texted to her through that
> service.
>
> So maybe a few more "current users" than just "seven or eight" :-) .
It's a useful service. Judging from the number of complaints on the
T-Mobile forums and Howard forums, a lot more than seven or eight users
use the service. Since it's already in place and programmed into their
system I can't believe that it could cost that much to keep it
operating. Plus it drives up texting volumes and texting is very
profitable to the carrier. Maybe the problem is that many users have
unlimited texting and now they're trying to reduce the texting volume.
They haven't removed it from their web site yet,
"http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/addons/services/information.aspx?PAsset=Messaging&tp=Svc_Tab_Alert s"
At least the end of this service is a valid reason to get out of your
contract without an ETF.
On Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:49:17 -0400, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
> tlvp wrote:
>
>> Actually, Todd, the CC rep I spoke with on the 611 line, to find out
>> whether the announcement texted to my handset was for real or not,
>> indicated that she too would be let down, as she had been getting
>> devotional and inspirational messages texted to her through that
>> service.
>>
>> So maybe a few more "current users" than just "seven or eight" :-) .
>
> It's a useful service. Judging from the number of complaints on the
> T-Mobile forums and Howard forums, a lot more than seven or eight users
> use the service. Since it's already in place and programmed into their
> system I can't believe that it could cost that much to keep it
> operating. Plus it drives up texting volumes and texting is very
> profitable to the carrier. Maybe the problem is that many users have
> unlimited texting and now they're trying to reduce the texting volume.
>
> They haven't removed it from their web site yet,
> "http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/addons/services/information.aspx?PAsset=Messaging&tp=Svc_Tab_Alert s"
>
> At least the end of this service is a valid reason to get out of your
> contract without an ETF.
As far as the T-Mo Forums go, I've only seen mention of the problem here:
And, AaMoF, availability of that service was never a part of the TOS that
I've been shown, so I doubt its discontinuance will serve as grounds for
waiving an ETF. On the other hand, I've not been "on contract" for 5 years.
Cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP
On Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:49:17 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
wrote in <4ad0e4ef$0$1610$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net>:
>tlvp wrote:
>
>> Actually, Todd, the CC rep I spoke with on the 611 line, to find out
>> whether the announcement texted to my handset was for real or not,
>> indicated that she too would be let down, as she had been getting
>> devotional and inspirational messages texted to her through that
>> service.
>>
>> So maybe a few more "current users" than just "seven or eight" :-) .
>
>It's a useful service. Judging from the number of complaints on the
>T-Mobile forums and Howard forums, a lot more than seven or eight users
>use the service.
Only in your dreams -- there's been almost no push-back.
>Since it's already in place and programmed into their
>system I can't believe that it could cost that much to keep it
>operating.
Then you don't understand the cost of providing service and support.
What a shock. Not.
>Plus it drives up texting volumes and texting is very
>profitable to the carrier.
Not enough to matter.
>Maybe the problem is that many users have
>unlimited texting and now they're trying to reduce the texting volume.
Maybe the problem is that you have no clue.
>They haven't removed it from their web site yet,
>"http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/addons/services/information.aspx?PAsset=Messaging&tp=Svc_Tab_Alert s"
Look harder -- formal notice of discontinuance is on the website.
>At least the end of this service is a valid reason to get out of your
>contract without an ETF.
The only valid thing in your post.
--
Best regards,
John <http:/navasgroup.com>
If the iPhone is really so impressive,
why do iFans keep making excuses for it?
On Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:24:42 -0400, tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net>
wrote in <op.u1l6bghso63xbg@acer250.gateway.2wire.net>:
>On Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:49:17 -0400, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>
>> tlvp wrote:
>>
>>> Actually, Todd, the CC rep I spoke with on the 611 line, to find out
>>> whether the announcement texted to my handset was for real or not,
>>> indicated that she too would be let down, as she had been getting
>>> devotional and inspirational messages texted to her through that
>>> service.
>>>
>>> So maybe a few more "current users" than just "seven or eight" :-) .
>>
>> It's a useful service. Judging from the number of complaints on the
>> T-Mobile forums and Howard forums, a lot more than seven or eight users
>> use the service. Since it's already in place and programmed into their
>> system I can't believe that it could cost that much to keep it
>> operating. Plus it drives up texting volumes and texting is very
>> profitable to the carrier. Maybe the problem is that many users have
>> unlimited texting and now they're trying to reduce the texting volume.
>>
>> They haven't removed it from their web site yet,
>> "http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/addons/services/information.aspx?PAsset=Messaging&tp=Svc_Tab_Alert s"
>>
>> At least the end of this service is a valid reason to get out of your
>> contract without an ETF.
>
>As far as the T-Mo Forums go, I've only seen mention of the problem here:
>
>> http://forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/boar...=706&jump=true
>
>Pretty quiet, actually.
Indeed. Steven is just making it up (as usual).
--
Best regards,
John <http:/navasgroup.com>
If the iPhone is really so impressive,
why do iFans keep making excuses for it?
At 10 Oct 2009 12:49:17 -0700 SMS wrote:
> tlvp wrote:
>
> > Actually, Todd, the CC rep I spoke with on the 611 line, to find out
> > whether the announcement texted to my handset was for real or not,
> > indicated that she too would be let down, as she had been getting
> > devotional and inspirational messages texted to her through that
> > service.
> >
> > So maybe a few more "current users" than just "seven or eight" :-) .
>
> It's a useful service. Judging from the number of complaints on the T-
> Mobile forums and Howard forums, a lot more than seven or eight users use
> the service.
I don't look at T-Mo's forums much, but here's a whopping one thread on HoFo,
with less than a dozen posts, mlst of which say things like "gee, I didn't
know they still had that!" or "you can get alerts from Yahoo and MSN..."
By contrast, the "$1.50 for a paper bill" announcement generated several
threads, one with nearly 200 posts!
> Since it's already in place and programmed into their system
> I can't believe that it could cost that much to keep it operating. Plus
> it drives up texting volumes and texting is very profitable to the carrier.
> Maybe the problem is that many users have unlimited texting and now
> they're trying to reduce the texting volume.
IIRC, the content the alert service uses comes from Infospace. My guess is
some multi-year contract with the provider is expiring, and T-Mo has
decided killing the service is cheaper than re-upping with them or finding
a replacement.
> They haven't removed it from their web site yet,
> "http://www.t-
mobile.com/shop/addons/services/information.aspx?PAsset=Messaging&tp=Svc_Tab
_Alerts"
>
> At least the end of this service is a valid reason to get out of your
> contract without an ETF.
T-Mo pulling plug on SMS alerts 
Linear Mode
