Will I get charged extra for using Twitter on my phone?

[Shockwave 75]

I can't find this info anywhere!

I have a Fido LG Neon, which is apparently Twitter compatable, and I have an unlimited text plan, no data plan, and I have found that you can use Twitter through text mesaging, but will I get charged extra?

Anybody know?

[Deemar]

It depends on how it's interpreted by the network. When I worked at Telus we had a distinction between MSN instant messaging and text messages, they were covered under different plans because MSN used packet data and text messaging used the voice channels.....kind of. You'll have to find out how your firmware sends the message out via the network in order to find out if the network provider is going to charge for that.

[Shockwave 75]

Cool, thanks. I guess I have to call Fido. I tried last night, but I just didn't feel like sitting on hold for 15 minutes. No lie! Estimated wait time: 15 minutes.

[Aernaroth]

In general, you won't pay to receive tweets, as incoming text messages are usually free, right? To send out tweets, it probably costs the same as a normal text message, unless things are really different with your provider.

[Deemar]

Originally Posted by Aernaroth

In general, you won't pay to receive tweets, as incoming text messages are usually free, right? To send out tweets, it probably costs the same as a normal text message, unless things are really different with your provider.

If the phone sends them out as packet data they won't be received by the provider as text messages, they'll be viewed as data. Fido is not going to have any idea it was a Tweet that got sent through the network, they just see the data come/go through the network and charge accordingly.

[bedtime]

i'm with solo and i get my tweets via text messaging, and dont get charged extra, as they're just texts.

[Shockwave 75]

Spoke to Fido, incoming tweets are free, any outgoing are 25 cents.

[Deemar]

Originally Posted by Shockwave 75

Spoke to Fido, incoming tweets are free, any outgoing are 25 cents.

Did you ask if they'd be covered under any sort of plan? You can probably get unlimited covered in some sort of SMS or instant messaging package for $10.

[Shepp]

First rule of thumb is to assume that you will be charged extra for using your phone for anything but making local call to and from within your designated "local area" as dictated by your service provider.

Everything else you will be paying through the nose if they can get away with it.

[Aernaroth]

Originally Posted by Deemar

If the phone sends them out as packet data they won't be received by the provider as text messages, they'll be viewed as data. Fido is not going to have any idea it was a Tweet that got sent through the network, they just see the data come/go through the network and charge accordingly.

Twitter works (on many phones) off of text messages, not data packets. You send your tweet to a twitter number, which sends them to followers as text messages. At least, that's how it works on my phone, which effectively has no data plan. Again, might depend on the phone though. I'm next to certain I don't pay for incoming tweets though.