MSN Messenger and SMS alerts

[Guest fraser]

In MSN Messenger, there is an option to set an SMS number in your profile. For the SPV, this would be ideal, as an MSN contact could get in touch with you via SMS, prompting you to dial into MSN over GPRS. Essentially you would be available 24/7 on MSN.

However, Orange isn't one of the UK networks that can do this. Am I the only one that thinks this is crazy, especially as Orange and MS have a connection with the SPV?

Does anyone know of any plans to fix this? It would make MSN actually usable, instead of the novelty it is just now.

[Guest eyup]

Just had a look through and it does allow you to choose Orange UK as your network when you choose "mobile settings" and sign up. You'll get a validation code sent when you give them your number.

then once you sign out of msn messenger and then back in you get the option to allow your contacts to sms you from messenger.

but at 10 per message it could rack up a bit!!

havent had a text yet off it but seams ok. Unless i missed something? (hope not otherwise v embarrased!!) ;-)

[Guest fraser]

Woah. That was not there last week, I even tried all of the other (international) Orange networks and the other UK ones with no success.

Do you mean that you get charged 10p for every message sent to you? I can't see any mention of that anywhere...

[Guest ClintEastman]

Yeh, that's new.....

Wasn't there last week!!

[Guest eyup]

sure it says so - you'll av to click on a link tho - its either "help" or "Terms and conditions". Sure it said it was 10p to recieve message. Sorry cant give more detail - rushed through it.

[Guest ClintEastman]

MSN Mobile Orange Information on Charging

This service is available to Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go customers connected to the Orange network in the UK.

Pay As You Go customers will be charged at their service plan rates for each text message sent and 10 pence for each text message received, subject to phone being in credit.

Pay Monthly customers will be charged at their service plan rates for each text message sent and 10 pence for each text message received.

Some use of the service may be available whilst outside the UK. Any use of this service outside the UK will be subject to international rates for sending and receiving text messages whilst abroad.

You will receive a text message for each email received in your inbox. Orange recommends that you use your Hotmail filter and messenger status to ensure that you only receive alerts for emails from sources you have selected.

Further information is available on www.msn.co.uk

[Guest fraser]

That sucks. Another aspect of the internet ruined by commercial greed. The feature is pretty pointless now...the idea of using MSN instead of SMS is for the cost, but if it costs you money to receive SMS, then it's pretty useless.

Plus the fact that you have to look at the terms and conditions to learn what the charges are. They are essentially hiding the fact that you get charged, there should be a clear warning that it's going to cost you when you sign up. The best they have is:

When you click next, a confirmation message will be sent to your phone. Your service provider may charge you for this message.

No mention that day-to-day usage would also cost money.

Am I the only one who remembers when SMS <--> e-mail gateways used to be free, and you could get ringtones/logos for any phone for free?

[Guest eyup]

nope i remember too! anyway of making money these days aint it!!!

i like the way you automatically assumed to want notification of all emails recieved aswell, again at 10p each! couple that with the notorious world of hotmail spam and god knows how much you'd be charged!

all in all pretty useless me thinks considering the cost!!!! :evil:

[Guest fraser]

Yup. I went to the hotmail settings and told it to only notify me if a certain string appeared in the subject. I then entered the text as some random gobblygook e.g. "jgfkfdsjgkfd". No hotmail to my phone now!

I get over a hundred mails a day to my hotmail account, which is basically my spam killer. Any "enter e-mail address" registrations get sent here. 100 a day at 10 pence each equals £10 per day.

Which is £3650 per year!! Hmmm, someones gonna get stung by this one...even if it only goes on for a billing month, that's still £300 of charges.

[Guest ClintEastman]

You can set it to send SMS when you are offline and the email is from a contact. So spam will not set it off......

Or you can just have it so people can SMS you you from messenger when you are offline. :)

[Guest madu]

But that just saves your cheapskate mates 10p per SMS by charging you 20/30? What a bunch of W@NKERS!!!

PS: Oh those days of free gateways... You could actually SMS via email by typing in TO: [email protected] or similar.... ARRRRGHHH!!!

[Guest fraser]

I used MTN, a South African telco. Still around these days, but no free SMS gateway. "e-mail to your phone"? Bah, I had that back in 1996, back when I was getting laughed at by my mates for having a mobile in the first place! :wink: