Dec
11
2008
Angry at SMS users
The only text messages I get on my private cell is news updates from my carrier and messages of replies from facebook and twitter saying that my status is updated now. Today I got a message that kinda went out of this steady pattern. It was a chain letter. Yes the very same style of chain letter that specifies that if you forward to X number of people this good thing will happen. The only difference is it was an SMS message rather then an email.
This is what the message said.
Fwd:FW:Fwd::Attention! All cell phones Customers send this message2 10ppl and cell company will credit ur account $60.00 merry christmas.
I copied it exactly.
Now not only is this waiting my time and [the stupid person who forwarded it to me]‘s time it is also waiting mine and his/hers money. Unlike the Internet, where you can get a free email account and do this, you actually have to pay for this.
Lets do the math
On average I have seen text messaging prices between $0.02 and $0.10 per message in and per message out (varies who your carrier is). This specific message says to send it to 10 people. This is my formula. {SMS_In_Price} + ({SMS_Out_Price} x {Users_To}) = {Waisted Money}. Lets put in some values, I am using the higest price I have seen ($0.10), 0.10 + (0.10 x 10) = $1.10.
Well ok that is not that much but by doing this more and more you are waisting more and more. Save that money and put it to good use like texting friends with IMPORTANT information.
Another note. No matter what the platform (email, sms, im…) is don’t forward chain letters.
