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While the rest of the US will likely wallow in the shared misery of Canadian subscribers being charged for incoming text messages, our friends to the North are none-too-happy about the situation. Following in the footsteps of US wireless carriers looking to squeeze every penny out of their American subscriber-base, Bell and Telus have announced that [...]

It’s one thing for a wireless operator to encourage its subscribers to use SMS text messaging services - the most profitable of wireless services , afterall. But, it’s a completely different (wrong) thing for a wireless provider to force its customer to accept incoming SMS text messages and consequently pay for them. It’s unfortunate, but in the US, we get docked for every incoming SMS text message (whereas our IntoMobile Europe-team only pays for outgoing text messages). The problem is, T-Mobile has been forcing all its customers (those with text messaging bundles, those on a pay-per-text basis, and even those that don’t want anything to do with text messages) to accept incoming text messages. Other providers offer the option to turn off SMS text messaging features on individuals’ accounts, but T-Mobile doesn’t seem to believe in customer-service. So, it looks like a group of Yankees is going to show the German-owned company just what we believe in. That is to say, a class-action lawsuit has been filed against T-Mobile for essentially forcing its customers to pay for a service they never wanted. The suit states: “T-Mobile refuses to disable the texting messaging feature on its customers’ accounts, even when the customer has no interest in sending, or, more importantly, receiving text messages.” A few cents here and there might not matter to people now, but if SMS text message spam starts to pick up, it could result in some hefty forced-charges. Now this is a lawsuit we’re actually going to condone. [Via: TechDirt ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Wireless carriers gouging customers on SMS text message ratesO2 offers iPhone customers more bang for buck - more wireless minutes and text messages for the same tariffAmp'd Mobile assets snatched up by Prexar Mobile - offers Amp'd Mobile customers free text messages to switchAT&T to raise SMS and MMS messaging ratesStopping the [...]

Aside from those reports of iPhones going bonkers following an update to the v1.1.3 firmware, it seems that the new firmware brings with it some previously unmentioned features - icing on the cake. The previous firmware limited SMS text message storage to 1,000 messages. The limit wasn’t too shabby, but when you send upwards of 20 SMS text messages per day (which are a joy to send on the iPhone - even better now ), you can find yourself having to free up some space and delete text-message conversations quite often. It was really a shame, since text message conversations are threaded, it was nice to have a running log of past conversations. Well, Apple has boosted the SMS text message storage limit. We’re not sure exactly how many text messages will now be stored on the iPhone, but we’re hoping the new text message-capacity is large enough so that even heavy SMS-users won’t have to worry about their text message inbox too often. And, to make it easier to type out those text messages on your iPhone’s on-screen keyboard, Apple has enhanced the keyboard interface. The keyboard now registers simultaneous typing inputs - which is to say that you can now hold down that “Shift” key whilst hitting another key, more similar to the way a real keyboard works. Gone are the days of hitting “Shift,” and lifting your finger before hitting the next key. Lastly, you can activate Lyric- or Karaoke-mode on the iPhone by tapping on the Album cover as the song is playing. As you may have guessed, Karaoke-mode displays the lyrics of compatible songs right on your iPhone’s screen - great for rockin’ out to that new song, and actually knowing the words. Armed with the correct lyrics, you’re friends will be less annoyed at your attempts at American iDol glory. Thanks for the hook-up Apple. Now, where’s the damn MMS and video recording. Actually, we just like giving you grief over MMS because we can, but we never really...

What did we say about the litigation-happy society that the US has become ? It looks like another joker is coming out of the woodwork and has filed suit against 131 companies for infringing on his patent regarding the sending and receiving of SMS text message to/from foreign countries. Digital Trends is reporting that Aris Mardirissian, founder of Technology Patents LLC, claims that his two patents ( 6,646,542 and RE39,870 ) outline a method to deliver SMS text messages overseas by using the internet as a packet-switched network to reach a foreign mobile network. Mardirissian is seeking a permanent injunction against all companies sending and receiving international SMS text messages and some money as compensation. The suit names Microsoft, Motorola, Yahoo, Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T among a host of other companies totalling a whopping 131 in all! Now, this character has apparently had some legal trouble in the past, so we’ll see how this lawsuit pans out. [Via: Textually ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Samsung's new patent to improve the text messagingAT&T launches International Long Distance Texting planT-Mobile USA to raise text messaging pricesFree SMS text messaging from your web browser - also sends to your mobile phone, does mass messaging, repliesBroadcom Sues Qualcomm Over Patent And Licensing Mis-steps

Don’t you just hate it when you have to run out for that hot date and leave your eBay bid on that unlocked mobile phone unattended? Those few hours spent trying to get in good with the opposite sex can really leave your bid open to a last minute snipe-attack. Well, eBay UK feels your pain. With the launch of their new mobile bidding service, users can respond via SMS text message to “outbid” alerts, delivered to your mobile phone. The service will be offered as an option whenever a bid is placed, and will cost 12 pence plus VAT per message. So, the next time you find yourself chatting it up with a hottie, you can keep an eye on your eBay auction - and play it off like you’re SMS texting your huge network of friends, you gadget-loving-social-butterfly, you. [Via: MocoNews ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Don't buy an iPhone on eBay!Gold iPhone spotted on eBayApple iPhone sold on eBay for $800 - Was it a hoax?One BILLION web pages viewed with Opera MiniNokia 8900 pictures leak, my eyes are bleeding

Granted, there’s nothing new about a free web-based SMS text messaging service - there are plenty of similar websites out there. But Joopz breaks from the crowd by offering some incredible features and integration with your mobile phone. Thanks to the good folks over at Joopz, you can send SMS text messages straight from your web browser. And, if you feel so inclined, you can even send mass text messages - giving you the option to reply to individual replies. Then, say you want to keep track of those text message convos on your mobile phone, just forward the text messages to your mobile phone and keep that conversation going while you’re on the go! Head on over to Joopz.com to check out the new service. It’s a free service, so you really don’t have anything to lose - but if you plan on sending more than 50 messages per month, you’re going to need to pony up $2.95/month or $19.95/year for the premium service). [Via: The Raw Feed ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:T-mobile's Mother's Day Pormotion: Text your Mother for FREE on Mother's Day!Get FREE MMS Messaging on your T-mobile BlackBerry!!T-Mobile USA to raise text messaging pricesOhio teenager sends SMS text message while walking, gets hit by train - seriouslyText Messaging Craze Is Making Kids Stupid!