Comments on: Telus responds to incoming text message charge http://mobilesyrup.com/2008/07/11/telus-responds-to-015-text-message-increase/ Mobile News & Reviews for Canadians Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:17:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: midtoad http://mobilesyrup.com/2008/07/11/telus-responds-to-015-text-message-increase/comment-page-1/#comment-1766 midtoad Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:37:01 +0000 http://mobilesyrup.com/?p=1818#comment-1766 Telus says "overall text messaging rate changes affect a small segment of TELUS’ wireless customer base and are limited to those who do not currently subscribe to a text messaging plan." Errm, that small segment would be 80% of its users. According to a recent survey of US cell users, 80% had NEVER sent a text message. Telus has managed to piss off 80% of its users with this ill-considered cash grab. What they are trying to create is a climate of fear, trying to scare customers into buying a text plan (and thus increasing the earnings per customer). Telus, Bell and Rogers are all engaged in a concerted and coordinated campaign to raise their rates and lock in as many customers as possible with 3-year plans so that when competition comes, they are facing it from as strong a position as possible. This is monopolistic behaviour at its worst. If the big three were truly interested in competition, they'd be preemptively lowering their rates now so that the new entrant could not make any money. Instead, they're shooting themselves in their feet and making it easier for the new entrant to look good. Telus says “overall text messaging rate changes affect a small segment of TELUS’ wireless customer base and are limited to those who do not currently subscribe to a text messaging plan.” Errm, that small segment would be 80% of its users. According to a recent survey of US cell users, 80% had NEVER sent a text message. Telus has managed to piss off 80% of its users with this ill-considered cash grab. What they are trying to create is a climate of fear, trying to scare customers into buying a text plan (and thus increasing the earnings per customer).

Telus, Bell and Rogers are all engaged in a concerted and coordinated campaign to raise their rates and lock in as many customers as possible with 3-year plans so that when competition comes, they are facing it from as strong a position as possible. This is monopolistic behaviour at its worst.

If the big three were truly interested in competition, they’d be preemptively lowering their rates now so that the new entrant could not make any money. Instead, they’re shooting themselves in their feet and making it easier for the new entrant to look good.

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