Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Verizon To Charge Content Providers $.03 Per SMS

Posted by timothy on from the but-there's-no-penny-slot dept.

An anonymous reader writes "It appears that Verizon is going to start double-dipping by charging both consumers AND content providers for SMS text messages. Verizon has informed content partners that it will levy a $.03 charge for messages sent to customers, effective November 1. From RCRWireless: 'Countless companies could be affected by the new fee, from players in the booming SMS-search space (4INFO, Google Inc. and ChaCha) to media companies (CNN, ESPN and local outlets) to mobile-couponing startups (Cellfire) to banks and other institutions that use mobile as an extension of customer services.'"

2 of 260 comments (clear)

  1. They have it all wrong by Bryansix · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ONLY the sender should be charged for SMS. You can't choose which ones you receive so why should you pay for them?

  2. Re:Timing is suspect by xant · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think it's safe to say that Verizon and its little friends are big fans of the current surveillance-friendly administration, seeing as how the W administration just gave the telcos the world's largest "Get Out Of Jail Free" card with their little "retroactive immunity" bill.

    *sigh* Obama voted for it. (I'm voting for him anyway.)

    Of course, I'm suspicious of the way gas prices suddenly drop in October of years divisible by 4, too. :)

    They drop every October. Every September, too. People drive more in the summer.

    --
    It's rare that you're presented with a knob whose only two positions are Make History and Flee Your Glorious Destiny.