| Text messaging can be costly and is more often the | | | | the plan limits while others made use of more |
| reason for exceeding cell phone plan limits than voice | | | | restrictive plans to cap usage at predetermined levels. |
| calling for those with families. On the other hand, text | | | | Such restrictions are evident in services such as |
| messaging can be less disruptive in some situations | | | | AT&T Smart Limits and T-Mobile's KidConnect which |
| than voice calling and can certainly help to keep loved | | | | cut off text messaging once a monthly cap is |
| ones in contact. In fact, in a recent study reported | | | | reached. Any prepaid service offers such control. |
| by Samsung Mobile, parents and teens reportedly felt | | | | In a few instances, families reported using unlimited |
| their relationship improved and communication | | | | texting plans that offer the service for a flat fee |
| increased when teens and parents interacted via text | | | | which is predictable each month. For example, Sprint |
| message. For most families however, budget | | | | offers unlimited messaging which can be added to |
| concerns have to take a front seat. | | | | any of their plans for $15/month. Most US cellular |
| In an informal survey it was found that families take | | | | providers now offer unlimited calling and texting plans |
| a variety of approaches in controlling the cost of | | | | but are generally appropriate and economical only for |
| text messaging. At one extreme some families | | | | those with the highest usage. |
| merely report that they don't use text messaging | | | | A final cost control for text messaging mentioned by |
| and, in fact, have cell phones that don't possess the | | | | some users was the use of free messaging services |
| capability of sending or receiving messages. Voice | | | | that can be found online. Services such as |
| calling is their primary need and only service. Other | | | | textmessage.cc and are examples. Such services |
| families report that texting is used only in specific | | | | allow users to send messages for free but in |
| circumstances, such as when a family member needs | | | | generally require the user to send the messages |
| to report only that they will be delayed in arriving | | | | online versus through their cellular provider. The |
| home or to say "call me". Such users also report that | | | | person receiving such messages on their phone then |
| they have "unknown" callers blocked to avoid any | | | | pay the typical fee. |
| unsolicited messages. | | | | Text messaging can be quick, convenient, and can |
| Families that had a higher usage of text messaging | | | | certainly play an important role in keeping busy |
| reported other approaches. For some, teen usage of | | | | families in contact. How families control the costs of |
| the service was a primary concern. To cap usage, | | | | such service however is dependent upon their own |
| parents sometimes had teenagers accept | | | | needs and usage as well as their own creativity. |
| responsibility for text messaging charges that exceed | | | | |