5G Technology World

  • 5G Technology and Engineering
  • FAQs
  • Apps
  • Devices
  • IoT
  • RF
  • Radar
  • Wireless Design
  • Learn
    • 5G Videos
    • Ebooks
    • EE Training Days
    • FAQs
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars/Digital Events
  • Handbooks
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
  • Resources
    • Design Guide Library
    • EE World Digital Issues
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • Engineering Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

T-Mobile, ChaCha Clash Over ‘Twitter Tax’

By Staff Author | September 17, 2010

T-Mobile USA and ChaCha are exchanging barbs over a reported quarter-cent charge on each standard-rate text message sent over T-Mobile’s network.

ChaCha, which operates a SMS answer service, says it will drop T-Mobile from its service if the carrier goes ahead with a rumored plan to charge $0.0025 on each text message aggregators send over its network beginning Oct. 1.

ChaCha sends between 10 percent and 12 percent of its SMS traffic over T-Mobile’s network every year, amounting to about 125 million text messages per year.

Calling the proposed fee “egregious and unacceptable,” ChaCha CEO Scott Jones said in a statement that ChaCha would shift its traffic to other carriers and platforms if T-Mobile went ahead with a so-called “Twitter tax.”

“T-Mobile is a carrier that doesn’t understand the realities of content businesses including Facebook, Twitter, ESPN and ChaCha,” Jones said.

T-Mobile declined to confirm the proposed charge, but said in a statement that “business agreements with content aggregators, including messaging fees, have been common practice in the wireless industry for years. It is not accurate to characterize these business agreements as new or simply as a price increase.”

A ChaCha spokesman disagreed with T-Mobile’s statement, saying the carrier had never before charged content aggregators a fee for every text sent over its network. The spokesman said the fee could have a steep price for websites like Facebook and Twitter, potentially costing the companies upwards of $50,000 per month.

The fee hike, if its goes ahead as planned, will not affect T-Mobile’s general subscriber base. The carrier said there are no changes to its consumer messaging or data plans.


Filed Under: Carriers

 

Next Article

← Previous Article
Next Article →

Related Articles Read More >

eSIM
eSIM eases changing carriers for phones and IoT
QoE and QoS comparison
Benchmarking in 5G: More important than ever
iPhone 12
I bought a 5G phone, now what?
6G
Key takeaways from 6G Symposium

Featured Contributions

  • Overcome Open RAN test and certification challenges
  • Wireless engineers need AI to build networks
  • Why AI chips need PCIe 7.0 IP interconnects
  • circuit board timing How timing and synchronization improve 5G spectrum efficiency
  • Wi-Fi 7 and 5G for FWA need testing
More Featured Contributions

EE TECH TOOLBOX

“ee
Tech Toolbox: 5G Technology
This Tech Toolbox covers the basics of 5G technology plus a story about how engineers designed and built a prototype DSL router mostly from old cellphone parts. Download this first 5G/wired/wireless communications Tech Toolbox to learn more!

EE LEARNING CENTER

EE Learning Center
“5g
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.

Engineering Training Days

engineering
“bills
5G Technology World
  • Enews Signup
  • EE World Online
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Analogic Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • Engineer’s Garage
  • EV Engineering
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy

Search 5G Technology World