Oct. 9, 2006

Sprint Nextel has raised the price it charges users to send a text message to 15 cents, up from a previous price of 10 cents.

The carrier also added a cent to the cost of casual data usage, increasing the per-kilobyte price from 2 cents to 3 cents.

Sprint Nextel implemented the price increase Oct. 1, and warned customers of the change in August and September billing statements.

Most wireless carriers charge subscribers 10 cents to send a text message.

Sprint Nextel said the price increases will only affect customers without a text-messaging or data plan.

The carrier offers various unlimited data plans, and its text messaging plans range from $5 for 300 text messages per month to $15 for unlimited messages.

Average charges for text message plans also did not change; if subscribers on text-messaging plans go over their allotted message limit, they must pay 10 cents per message.

Sprint Nextel did not say whether the pricing changes would affect the terms of its early termination fee.

However, some Internet users said they were able to cancel their Sprint Nextel service contracts without incurring termination fees due to the pricing changes.

Most wireless carriers charge postpaid customers a fee if they want to cancel their service contract, although those fees can be waved if service prices change.

Sprint Nextel officials did not offer a reason for the pricing changes.

Source: RCR News