Enter your email to receive blog updates →

Text Message Away Messages Would be Helpful

by Ryan Shell on December 23, 2009

On Friday, I’ll be completing my New Years Resolution of traveling once a month this year by heading to Mexico. Earlier today I finally got around to figuring out if my cell phone would work in the Cancun/Playa del Carmen area, and if so, how much it was going to cost me.

The good news is that AT&T says my iPhone should work just fine. The bad news is that it’s going to cost an arm and a leg to talk and text.

After learning this bit of info, I quickly put my frugal hat on and thought to myself, “I’ll just use the Web to communicate and bypass talk/text.” Not so fast. There’s a pricey charge for that as well.

Then I thought, I’ll just use my phone to take pictures when I’m out and about and a camera isn’t super convenient. This makes sense because I’ll likely have my phone on me anyway – not having a phone doesn’t sit very well with me.

But here is the problem. As soon as I turn my phone on a flood of text messages could come through costing me around $.50 each! This is where text message away messages would come in handy.

Imagine how great t would be if I could turn on an away message, which would also prompt the system to basically hold my text messages until I turn the away message off.

That would rock!

And if that won’t work, AT&T should allow the messages to be downloaded to my phone, but only charge if I choose to open a message. It just doesn’t seem right to be charged for a flood of the messages that you really can’t control.

So how about it? Can I get a “woot woot” for text message away messages?

Update: I wasn’t quite satisfied with my earlier AT&T call so I opted to call back. The first person told me something that wasn’t exactly correct, at least that’s what I was just told. Apparently you are only charged for sending text messages while out of the country. Incoming text messages are treated as normal messages. While this is good news, the away message would still be valid as it would let folks know why they aren’t receiving a response.

Enjoy that post? Sign up to receive updates automatically:

About the Author

Marketing & PR pro. Social media user, cyclist, inline speed skater, volunteer, blogger, public speaker. Founded Fashables. Work at Ketchum. And I’m goofy.

Tagged as: AT&T, text message away message

  • http://life.firelace.com Ben Hwang

    Okay. The second idea wouldn’t work at all based on how text messages work. Txt messaging is not 2-way communications unlike what most people think. It’s duplex like a walkie-talkie. Which means, you can send a text message and it gets shotgun blasted through the network and you get charged. Regardless of delivery or if it makes it there. So if the carrier receives the text message, then you get charged. Period. Nothing you can do about this.

    The original idea, you should be able to control if the flow is on or off. So technically in theory, you should be able to turn on and turn off your text messages from your user account. I would imagine that most carriers don’t give you this choice because like many businesses, theirs starts and ends with fee generation. The same way that credit cards hit you with finance charges and wouldn’t want to warn you ahead of time, I doubt that you’ll ever see that feature from a large carrier.

    I could be wrong in the future, but that’s just how the telecom industry rolls currently.

  • Ryan Shell

    Ben, thanks for the comment. I’ll take one idea of two being a possibility any day!

    Given that people use their phones for pictures, movies, photos, navigation, etc., they are no longer just a “turn it on to talk” type of device.

    Ryan

  • http://www.palmettocoop.com Mark Curran

    Ryan,

    That sounds like a great idea, but not available to help you right now. If I were you, I would proactively contact the people who regularly send you text messages (probably just a handful) and ask them not to send any while you’re away, because of the cost to receive them. Then, I would only turn on my phone in an emergency. Perhaps your hotel will have a free computer in the lobby or business services center that you can use to stay connected thru Twitter, Facebook, e-Mail, etc.

    Congrats on completing this resolution in 2009 by the way. It was a good one and fun to follow-through with, I’m sure. Feliz Navidad, mi amigo!

  • Ryan Shell

    Mark, thanks for the comment. Being forced to not turn my phone on isn’t really an option given the shift in technology. I use it for a camera, music player and more.

  • Mike

    I’m assuming that you added an International iphone Data Package? Otherwise your unlimited $30 iPhone domestic data plan will not cover your international data usage costs. However, your home pay-per-use or package text message rates apply to all text, picture, or video messages received when roaming internationally. That should be no problem for you. Enjoy

  • Ryan Shell

    Mike, no I didn’t. I have the auto update off on my phone so I shouldn’t have to worry about it staying connected. I plan to only use the Web when WiFi is available.

  • Pingback: Text Message Away Message. Do You see Value? | Ryan Shell.com

  • Ryan

    Regarding your request to have the ability to turn off texting at the same time allowing an say messge……I could use that feature myself. Maybe that feature can be included with the unlimited data and text plan I currently use. That way “generated fees” is a non issue right?

  • http://cbaloga.com Christian Baloga

    Ryan,

    I know this blog was written a couple months ago but I just stumbled upon it and I wanted to let you know there is an application that will allow you to place a custom away message when someone calls or texts you. I’m a graphic designer for appalachianapps.com and I designed the UI for an app called “I-Reply”. Depending on what phone you have, you might be able to download it at Crackberry App Store: http://bit.ly/d2DewR, or Blackberry AppWorld: http://bit.ly/adqRAF.

    Hope this helps and hope your trip to Mexico was a blast!

  • Ryan Shell

    Christian,

    Thanks for sharing that info. I have an iPhone so don’t think the solution will work, but it’s a good start.

    By the way, Mexico was awesome!

  • Ollie

    Ryan,

    I just came across your blog about text messages. I think this is a great idea, and I actually have been thinking about this for a while now. Me and you should create an app for this lol. I think it would be a good public sell, especially with the rise in accidents due to text messaging. You seem to have some pretty good ideas. I have a few I would like to run by you to get your feedback.

    Best Wishes,

    Ollie

  • Sean

    In terms of international calling (specific to Mexico) I found a loophole that keeps your bill relatively equal if u’d like to know more. Regarding txts, they have a $10 plan for 50 txts. Not a great deal but worth it. However, I completely feel u in wishing they had outgoing txts, similar to outgoing messages on your voicemail or instant messenger services, for your same purpose and one I feel is even greater. My main reasoning is that in addition to being unsafe while driving, it’s illegal in many states, including my own of California. It’s very clear that this technology is very accessible and could be of great benefit. What’s the deal?!? Where’s the free app?

  • http://www.jargonwriter.com Melissa

    Ryan – didn’t read through all the comments, but this is the advantage to using something like google voice – you can turn texts sent to your google voice account “off” so they don’t forward to your phone. Then you could just check them once a day from an internet connection and use that internet connection to send return messages (although there isn’t an “auto-reply” option).

Previous post:

Next post: