Senator Questions Rise In US Texting Prices 592
vimm writes "Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) has started an inquiry on the rising prices of text messaging (up 100% since 2005) that has occurred almost in sync with the consolidation of 6 major carriers down to 4. In a letter sent to Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile, Kohl said the increase 'does not appear to be justified by rising costs in delivering text messages.'"
O RLY? (Score:5, Funny)
This message just cost me $427 to text.
Are you interested in this story? (Score:5, Funny)
If so, text "Text" to 8398 for updates! Standard text messaging rates apply!
Dammit, Kohl! (Score:5, Funny)
Herb, we told you the check was in the mail, why can't you be more patient? I have to warn you if you continue on this track future checks may be even slower to arrive. I'm sure you'll start to see things our way very soon.
Sincerely,
AT&T
Re:Wag the dog (Score:1, Funny)
So all the saved money will just go nowhere? It will have no effect?
props 2 u
I for one welcome... (Score:5, Funny)
Dear Senator Kohl, (Score:5, Funny)
We respectfully take your concerns into consideration, and present you with this money basket. We hope that this free donation to your re-election campaign, brand new BMW, and lakehouse are enjoyed thoroughly by you! Thank you for ceasing your inquiry - err, we mean, thank you for invariably enjoying our gifts!
Love,
The Telcos
Re:I Can Think of Possibilities ... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Wag the dog (Score:5, Funny)
The police: When seconds count, we're there in about eight minutes.
Re:Rising costs to text? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Wag the dog (Score:5, Funny)
If guns kept people safer we'd be allowed to carry them on commercial flights.
I must say, I love the logic of that position! Let me try one:
If bottled water kept people safer we'd be allowed to carry it on commercial flights.
Re:Wag the dog (Score:3, Funny)
Personally, I'd feel safer on a flight if ordinary citizens were allowed to carry
Yeah but the only problem with "ordinary citizens" is they tend to miss the bad guy and hit grandma over there in the aisle seat ;)
Small and low powered so no single person could really do much damage, but several passengers could easily take someone down if they tried anything stupid.
Hmm, tasers. I could get behind that. Imagine the hilarity of hearing "Don't tase me bro!" in Arabic.
Re:Naw. Herb Kohl is one of the good guys. (Score:2, Funny)
But, but when a Democrat has his own money, he's an "elitist"!
Rising prices are justified (Score:5, Funny)
Yes but the substantive content and intrinsic profundity of the messages has increased over the years. Further costs are incurred as a result of the sheer philosophical depth of these messages.
Re:Wag the dog (Score:3, Funny)
The constitution only mentions firearms. You'll need another amendment if you want to include water....
Re:Wag the dog (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Dammit, Kohl! (Score:5, Funny)
Funny enough, in 1900, AT&T (majority owner of Western Union at the time) charged $0.30 per text message over the telegraph. 108 years later, they've shaved off 10 cents per message.
Progress! Profit!
Re:Wag the dog (Score:4, Funny)
You must be fun at parties.
(Not disagreeing with you, but part of the government's job is to halt monopolistic practices. One senator is working on that which is great IMO.)
Re:Rising costs to text? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:What are you talking about? The market is fine. (Score:2, Funny)
Did you know that that soft drink you pay $3.50 for at the movie theater costs the movie theater pennies worth of syrup and cold water?
What I find more outrageous is the drink smuggling industry -- it's costing the Movie industry an estimated $12.5 Million a year! It's obvious that they have to charge more to make up for these substantial losses.
Re:Wag the dog (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Wag the dog (Score:5, Funny)
Yep. Because I'd have one too. So if he is a bad guy, I will see his, he will see mine, and probably figure I'm not the only one. So more likely, he's another one just like me.
Meanwhile, the other guy's thinking: "Whoops. Looks like dumbass brought a gun to a plane fight."
Re:O RLY? (Score:5, Funny)
The answer, Mr Senator, is quite simple: BECAUSE WE CAN!
Keep up his line of questioning and you may find your re-election campaign underfunded. And by pure coincidence, everyone in your voting district may receive text messages encouraging them to vote for your opponent.
Yes Mr. Senator, we live by mutually agreeable terms. You have a nice seat in the senate, and it would be a shame if anything were to happen to it.
Sincerely,
Big Teleco
Re:Rising costs to text? (Score:3, Funny)
IF TH3Y W3RE ANY CH3AEPR THEY WUD COMPLATALEY CLOG TEH TUBS
I knew a girl who could clog the tubs, I forget her name. You could probably google her pretty easily. Maybe she'd have some input on the matter? or output?
Re:Wag the dog (Score:5, Funny)
The odds of randomly hitting anything critical with a centimeter-wide slug from a handgun before other passengers with guns would take you out is astronomical. Especially if they just had a bowl of complementary derringers at the boarding ramp.
Oh great, then I'd have someone's kid shooting the back of my seat for the whole flight.
Re:Wag the dog (Score:2, Funny)