New Charges for SMS, Call Display, VM

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.fido (More info?)

Shawn wrote:
>
> I didn't see a post on this yet, so...

Where did you see these new rates announced ?

> Starting May 20, 2004.

Not much of a notice. If this is documented in my next bill, I'll have about 2
weeks notice. Once normally expects one month notice for any change in billing.

> Call Display $4 per month
> Voice Messaging with Instant Reply $4 per month
> Voice Messaging with Instant Reply and Call Display $6 per month

So, it is a $1 increase for the "minimum" combo of call display and VM. I
couldn't care less for their "instant reply" feature. Never used it while I
was on Fidopro.

> Messages received - Free
> Messages sent to a customer of a Canadian or American wireless carrier
> - 15c each

So they are switching to "sender pays". (except when a message comes from the
web site (and I assume TAP).

> Messages sent to a customer of an international wireless carrier - 20c
> each

They should only charge more if they start to actually support such
functionlaity and tell you exactly which carriers accept SMSs from Fido. (and
from them TO Fido).

> A charge of 30c per message sent from abroad (outside the U.S.) will
> be added to the above rates.

One more reason to get an unlocked handset when travelling and buy local SIM
card to avoid exhorbitant roaming charges.

It will be interesting to see how Rogers manages to develop relationships and
if it can get more competitive SMS rates with international partners.

When Fido was part of the T-mobile "gang", it had some reach on a worldwide
basis, but now, it seems to be totally alone in the world. So we can't really
expect them to be able to negitiate sweet deals with the big guys, especially
if Rogers is getting "exclusive" deals with them.

> 15c applies to all e-mail messages sent and received, and to each text
> or e-mail received from fido.ca.

Consider that a modern handset can send/receive emails via GPRS, at it costs
$0.03 for 1024 characters, versus $0.15 for 160 characters for SMS.

What remains to be seen is how Fido will price MMS originated emails.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.fido (More info?)

On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 00:49:06 -0400, JF Mezei
<jfmezei.spamnot@teksavvy.com> wrote:

>When Fido was part of the T-mobile "gang", it had some reach on a worldwide
>basis, but now, it seems to be totally alone in the world.

And what is it that makes you think that Fido/Microcell is not now
party of the T-Mobile "gang?" T-Mobile has the same 15% investment in
Microcell that they did when the company was known as VoiceStream.

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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.fido (More info?)

On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 00:49:06 -0400, JF Mezei
<jfmezei.spamnot@teksavvy.com> wrote:

>> A charge of 30c per message sent from abroad (outside the U.S.) will
>> be added to the above rates.
>
>One more reason to get an unlocked handset when travelling and buy local SIM
>card to avoid exhorbitant roaming charges.

And I'm sure that you think that Rogers won't change or add to their
text messaging fees as well, eh?

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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.fido (More info?)

> >When Fido was part of the T-mobile "gang", it had some reach on a
worldwide
> >basis, but now, it seems to be totally alone in the world.
>
> And what is it that makes you think that Fido/Microcell is not now
> party of the T-Mobile "gang?" T-Mobile has the same 15% investment in
> Microcell that they did when the company was known as VoiceStream.

Actually, T-Mobile no longer holds an interest in Microcell. It was washed
when the company was recaptilized and they did not reinvest

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.fido (More info?)

Joseph wrote:
> And what is it that makes you think that Fido/Microcell is not now
> party of the T-Mobile "gang?" T-Mobile has the same 15% investment in
> Microcell that they did when the company was known as VoiceStream.

Nop. T-mobile's share of Microcell was divided by a large factor. Not sure if
it was 1000 or 10,000. They may retain the same number of shares, but because
Microcell issued a huge number of new shares, this has diluted the value of
old shares down to almost nil.

T-mobile widthdrew its member on the Microcell Board shortly after Mcell
entered bankrupcy protection last year.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.fido (More info?)

"JF Mezei" <jfmezei.spamnot@teksavvy.com> wrote in message
news:4090891E.E3E609E0@teksavvy.com...
> So they are switching to "sender pays". (except when a message comes from
the
> web site (and I assume TAP).

Might I add "switching back", and since receiving emails through SMS
isn't free, Rogers still has them beat IMHO. TTYL

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.fido (More info?)

>
> Consider that a modern handset can send/receive emails via GPRS, at it costs
> $0.03 for 1024 characters, versus $0.15 for 160 characters for SMS.
>

Try sending a 1024-characters email and see how many K's it costs in
traffic, both ways