{"items": [{"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-kaufman/friday-august-13-2010-data-only-cell-phones/418158096212/?comment_id=418172146212", "anchor": "fb-418172146212", "service": "fb", "text": "@Herbert: those are all stand alone plans. Some include voice, some don't. In general, the cheaper ones have no voice and no internet while the more expensive ones have both.", "timestamp": "1281726001"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-kaufman/friday-august-13-2010-data-only-cell-phones/418158096212/?comment_id=418175166212", "anchor": "fb-418175166212", "service": "fb", "text": "As for your rate question, outside of the usa, unlimited sms is included on almost all plans. For example, orange.co.uk has unlimited sms on pretty much all their plans over 15 pounds (23 dollars). http://shop.orange.co.uk/mobile-phones/plans/planList.jsp", "timestamp": "1281726741"}, {"author": "BDan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-kaufman/friday-august-13-2010-data-only-cell-phones/418158096212/?comment_id=418180371212", "anchor": "fb-418180371212", "service": "fb", "text": "Indeed, SMS really ought to be free with any voice plan, since the texts just use up extra space in the packets that keep the phone connected with the network. The problem in the U.S. is that the operators charge exorbitant rates simply because they can, because there's very little competition, due to the difficulty of switching carriers for customers.", "timestamp": "1281727982"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-kaufman/friday-august-13-2010-data-only-cell-phones/418158096212/?comment_id=418180951212", "anchor": "fb-418180951212", "service": "fb", "text": "@BDan: I'm hoping this changes in the next few years as companies like qwert (above, the cheapest, no contract) outcompete the more expensive ones. I don't know, though.", "timestamp": "1281728111"}, {"author": "BDan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-kaufman/friday-august-13-2010-data-only-cell-phones/418158096212/?comment_id=418194341212", "anchor": "fb-418194341212", "service": "fb", "text": "The thing is, that's still more expensive than the plans the major carriers bundle with voice plans (I believe Verizon currently charges $15 for unlimited SMS with a voice plan). And the major carriers are the ones selling access to their networks so that companies like qwert can provide such plans to consumers, so it's not clear that it will be possible for the third party companies to lower prices that much.", "timestamp": "1281731429"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-kaufman/friday-august-13-2010-data-only-cell-phones/418158096212/?comment_id=418195776212", "anchor": "fb-418195776212", "service": "fb", "text": "@BDan: I'd be happy with just a text plan, but I don't know how many others would be happy for just a cheap text-only plan", "timestamp": "1281731845"}, {"author": "Kiran", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-kaufman/friday-august-13-2010-data-only-cell-phones/418158096212/?comment_id=418372941212", "anchor": "fb-418372941212", "service": "fb", "text": "Those plans don't seem to include subsidized texting hardware, though the cost of unsubsidized hardware is still much less than the cost of a 2-year plan.", "timestamp": "1281795688"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-kaufman/friday-august-13-2010-data-only-cell-phones/418158096212/?comment_id=418400141212", "anchor": "fb-418400141212", "service": "fb", "text": "@Kiran: used phones are pretty cheap", "timestamp": "1281802921"}, {"author": "Steven", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-kaufman/friday-august-13-2010-data-only-cell-phones/418158096212/?comment_id=418428046212", "anchor": "fb-418428046212", "service": "fb", "text": "I grew up during a time when there weren't even answering machines. If you were expecting an important call you had to sit by the phone. Snail mail was of course exceedingly important. Neighbors and those not so close by often presented themselves at your door (and you at theirs) when communication was important. When answering machines became available, it revolutionized everything; yet, until the phone companies were de-monopolized (and still not enough for my taste and probably yours as well) a call a few miles away might be a long-distance call and one you might not want to make. I'm only 55, BTW:)
Today, when someone rings your doorbell, you become very cautious. Is it someone who is attempting to gain entry into your home under false pretenses to assault and rob you, or just an annoying solicitor, or perhaps your neighbor who is poor, doesn't have internet and whose phone has been disconnected and wants to ask you for something?
Phone calls have become annoyances. I, whose social life once entirely depended on my potential date returning my phone call from her answering machine to my answering machine, have come to despise them like most people (except when it's my potential date:) ). And now, like you, I believe a cheap text plan should be my birthright, even though I almost never text and I'd still leave and send voice messages, especially while I'm driving; I just don't like to have my time demanded of me by someone else when it's inconvenient.", "timestamp": "1281808505"}, {"author": "Kiran", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-kaufman/friday-august-13-2010-data-only-cell-phones/418158096212/?comment_id=418532971212", "anchor": "fb-418532971212", "service": "fb", "text": "During these transitional times, it would be really useful if you could go directly to the voicemail service when you know someone's busy. Google Talk only work for this if the recipient has a device the message can be sent to--and if you don't have a cellphone, you probably don't have a device that can get the message. In a couple of years when LTE begins to arrive, everything will be data, and those of us with unlimited data plans will guard them like rent-controlled apartments.", "timestamp": "1281835837"}, {"author": "Kiran", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-kaufman/friday-august-13-2010-data-only-cell-phones/418158096212/?comment_id=418533256212", "anchor": "fb-418533256212", "service": "fb", "text": "There is, of course, a simple solution to Jeff's dilemma. Just don't answer the phone when you aren't expecting a call.", "timestamp": "1281835978"}]}