Text messaging pitfalls

hA, dudz. Mob fone txt msgz R kewl, bt dey cn cost U -- o yr kds -- big $'s.
Confused? If you're over 25, it's no wonder. Let me translate: Hey, dudes. Mobile phone text messages are cool, but they can cost you -- or your kids -- big bucks.
In case you haven't noticed, the wireless text messages that have been the rage for years in Europe and Asia have suddenly taken America by storm.
By the end of last year, U.S. wireless customers were sending more than a billion a month. That was four times the volume of a year earlier and 70 times the volume of December 2000.
Teens and college students have especially embraced a technology that allows them to swiftly and silently communicate with one another. All you need to send a text message is a newer cell phone and a nimble thumb.
Oh, and money. If you're not careful, lots of it.
In Britain two years ago, there were reports of children as young as 12 racking up text-messaging bills as high as $90 a month.
The same thing seems to be happening here. I heard one story recently about a parent's unexpected bill for $80 -- mostly for unopened messages sent to her teenager. And there are good reasons for concern in the way some carriers are pushing text messaging.
Numerous options
This is really cool stuff, but it isn't just about chatting with your friends. There's already a vast array of text services available that can add to your tab -- everything from sports updates to New York City celebrity sightings to soap-opera summaries -- and wireless companies are working overtime to expand the offerings.
The cellular equivalents of Internet e-mail lists and instant-messaging buddy groups are guaranteed to multiply the contents of your in-box.
Think of your kid at the computer IM'ing. Now think of your kid IM'ing with a meter running.
If you're a messenger, receiving messages, or on the hook for anyone else's bills, you'd better be aware of the prices. They can vary considerably from carrier to carrier and plan to plan.
Otherwise, you may face an embarrassing call to your carrier asking for help coping with an unexpectedly high bill. If you're a good customer, the carrier may cut you a break. But that's not something to count on.
Some tips
What should you watch out for? Here are some points to consider when you check your wireless plan or shop for new service:
U If you do nothing. If you don't opt for a discount or flat-rate plan, you'll pay basic rates that range as high as 10 cents per message, sent or received, at Cingular and Nextel, and as low as 5 cents at T-Mobile or a confusing penny per kilobyte at Sprint PCS (example: the "Hey dudes" message at the start of this column would cost about 2 cents with Sprint).
Some companies charge more for sending than receiving. At Verizon, outgoing messages are 10 cents, incoming are 2 cents. At AT & amp;T Wireless, outgoing messages are 10 cents, but incoming ones are free.
U The "bucket of messages" option. Most carriers offer discounts if you expect a steady volume of messages. At Cingular, for instance, $4.99 gets you 250 messages per month -- about 2 cents apiece.
Watch out for wrinkles here, too. Verizon's discount plans, such as $3.99 for 200 messages (2 cents each), count messages you receive equally with those you send. If most of your messages are incoming, it's hardly a discount.
U The flat-rate plans. If you just have to have text messaging, and lots of it, it may be worth paying a higher fee for unlimited use. At least three carriers offer that option.
At T-Mobile, you can get unlimited messaging as part of a $10-a-month add-on to any national plan. At Sprint, unlimited messaging adds $15 a month to most plans, though it's free with high-end plans. At Nextel, which caters mostly to business users, unlimited messaging adds $7.50 a month.
U Just saying no. If you're concerned about text-messaging's cost -- or about its potential to distract your child from more important things, such as school -- you can ask customer service to disable the option. It's better than duct-taping your teenager's thumbs.
Important date
One more point to remember: If you're considering changing services to get a better deal for text messaging (or anything else), you may want to wait till Nov. 24 approaches before signing a new contract.
That's the wireless industry's deadline for implementing "wireless number portability" rules, which will allow you to change carriers without giving up your phone number.
As competition heats up, better offers may be in store. Even for those with itchy thumbs.
XJeff Gelles is a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Write to him at: The Philadelphia Inquirer, P.O. Box 8263, Philadelphia, PA 19101 or e-mail consumerwatch@phillynews.com.