Skip to content

Puffbox

Simon Dickson's gov-tech blog, active 2005-14. Because permalinks.

2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Code For The People company e-government news politics technology Uncategorised

api award barackobama barcampukgovweb bbc bis blogging blogs bonanza borisjohnson branding broaderbenefits buddypress budget cabinetoffice careandsupport chrischant civilservice coi commentariat commons conservatives consultation coveritlive crimemapping dailymail datasharing datastandards davidcameron defra democracy dfid directgov dius downingstreet drupal engagement facebook flickr foi foreignoffice francismaude freedata gds google gordonbrown governanceofbritain govuk guardian guidofawkes health hosting innovation internetexplorer labourparty libdems liveblog lynnefeatherstone maps marthalanefox mashup microsoft MPs mysociety nhs onepolitics opensource ordnancesurvey ournhs parliament petitions politics powerofinformation pressoffice puffbox rationalisation reshuffle rss simonwheatley skunkworks skynews statistics stephenhale stephgray telegraph toldyouso tomloosemore tomwatson transparency transport treasury twitter typepad video walesoffice wordcamp wordcampuk wordpress wordupwhitehall youtube

Privacy Policy

  • X
  • Link
  • LinkedIn
  • 11 Jun 2007
    Uncategorised

    Twitter by SMS? Beware international charges

    A word of warning for any Twitter users in the UK who want to update their status via SMS text message. I set this up for the first time last month, and just received my first mobile phone bill since doing so. It came as a bit of a surprise to see that, on my network (3) at least, the messages are not included within my contract allowance – and were charged at 25p each!

    The itemised bill shows the number (07624801423) as belonging to Manx Telecom, and hence it would seem, is counted as an ‘international’ message. According to some reports I’ve seen, other networks may be similarly affected. There is a mention of SMS charges on the Twitter site, but it certainly doesn’t indicate clearly that UK users – who, crucially, will not be using an international dialling code – are charged at international rates.

    Responses

    1. Simon Collister
      11 Jun 2007

      I noticed that too last month. It is likely that Twitter got tax-breaks setting up their sms router on the Isle of Man as it’s a tax haven. I didnt give too much thought as I’m from there and know that my network doesn’t bill my texts as international.
      But you’re right to point out that not all networks do… my sister in London gets charged about £1.50 a minute to call my mum even though she lives on a rock 30 miles west of Liverpool!

    2. Pauline
      11 Jun 2007

      That’s interesting. I am on the pay as you go tariff with Tesco, and have been charged just the standard 10p a text. Yet when I tried to put down the twitter number as one of my three favourite numbers, it would not allow me to, as they have to be a UK number. That indicates that it is classed as an international number, yet I am only being charged UK rates.

    3. Nokia’s Widsets: good for Twitter, great for Jaiku « I’m Simon Dickson.
      11 Jun 2007

      […] good for Twitter, great for Jaiku Published June 11th, 2007 twitter Having been stung for international SMS messages when using Twitter, I’ve found the perfect alternative: using Nokia’s rather fantastic Widsets application […]

    4. SimonD
      11 Jun 2007

      I’ve found the ideal solution for someone, like me, on a very generous data tariff: use the Nokia Widsets engine. Oh, and switch to Jaiku as well. 😉

    5. Fintan
      13 Jun 2007

      Its ok if your with O2.
      I have 200 free minutes on top so when that runs out the standard charges apply

    6. Phill Price
      13 Jun 2007

      Twitter SMS charges
      Just a note to all UK users who think updating Twitter my profile) by SMS is cheap (or free in an inclusive package) as it’s a UK number.
      In fact the number is run by MANX telecom which means it counts as an international message – which by Simon…

Proudly Powered by WordPress