Boost acknowledges being 'overwhelmed' by unlimited texting, promises fix

This is crap. Boost is just being used as an excuse. Spint/Nextel has been this way for years. Many things could be to blame, first of all on the iDEN side all messages are sent/received as MMS messages and not SMS like the other carriers. MMS requires that the message be downloaded from the Internet before they can be viewed. Also, messages sent from Sprint/Nextel to Verizon are always marked as urgent regardless of settings.

I purchased the i335 phone and Boost Mobile unlimited plan at my local Radio Shack on April 20th, primarily for the unlimited text, which I need to use frequently when at work. I also planned to use the phone for occasional long distance phone calls. After purchasing and activating my phone on-line and waiting for 3 days for the phone to activate with no success I called customer care (it should be called customer we don't care) they finally managed to activate my phone. After using it (or attempting to use it) for several days I found that text messaging is a joke. Incoming text often NEVER arrive, the text that do arrive average 47 minutes to several hours to arrive. Long distance service is terrible my calls are always dropped,.Yes calls are "unlimited" but it is extremely annoying to have to call someone 3 or 5 times in an attempt to complete a simple conversation.

I called customer care to complain about the text messaging and the long distance issues and was told they were well aware of both of the issues. I was told that they were sorry, in fact very sorry but the popularity of their unlimited plan had strained their network. The rep informed me that my complaint about texting had been a major issue for 2 months and that they were working on resolving that issue and hoped to have it fixed in May.

I don't think they should have been advertising unlimited text and pushing unlimited text when they knew it wasn't working properly for 2 months prior to my phone purchase. I was then told that the issue with long distance call dropping was an issue they'd began to note in "certain areas" and how sorry they are. I was told that it started as a small problem but that the problem seems to be expanding in "certain areas".

The rep then walked me through various setting resets before sending me a text, which took 6 minutes to arrive to me (only text I ever received in under 40 minutes), he then said my phone was fixed and that they hoped to improve their text service. He said that they had people working on that and I should see improvement. in May.

After failing to receive text messages for the following 2 or 3 days, I had 3 friends text me test text, 2 of the text never arrived and the 3rd took 1 hour and 14 minutes to appear in my inbox. I called customer care again and was walked through another series of resets and once again told how very sorry they are and that they understand there is a problem and they know that it is frustrating..etc..

May arrived and texting was still not working in anything close to the expected fashion so I called customer care again to request a refund of the unused portion of my unlimited payment and was told they have a no refunds policy and how sorry they are that I am not happy with my service, they also always make sure to tell me the quick keypresses to use to Reboost my phone, which is very annoying when you are attempting to explain that your phone does not work for what you purchased it for. This time I asked to speak to a supervisor and was evidently transfered not to a supervisor but to another rep who listened to me for awhile and then told me she was not a supervisor. I was told there was no supervisor available,. I asked for the phone number for a supervisor and was told I could leave a message at the Boost website. I said I would stay on the line or call Customer Care back over and over until one could be located, suddenly there was a supervisor available. After explaining the issues to the supervisor I was told again how very sorry they were and that, yes there are text messaging issues and they are working to resolve them. Her excuse for the issues is that Boost had NO idea how popular their unlimited plan would be and that all of the new unlimited users are the reason there are issues. I was told I can not have any portion of my $50 refunded. They have a strict NO refund policy but I was "given" a $15 credit, which really only served to infuriated me. Great I have $15 to use on a phone that I can't use for phone calls or text. Wonderful, great customer care there! At this point all I want to do is to return my phone and get a refund. I don't want to use the phone, I DO NOT want to be a Boost customer.

I attempted to return the phone to Radio Shack and was told I can exchange it for a new same model phone. I generally spend several hundred dollars a year at my local Radio Shack, I will no longer be shopping there. Boost Mobile is still advertising their "wonderful" unlimited plan and signing up more people, so I imagine the problems will get worse and not better. I feel duped and ripped off by both Boost Mobile and by Radio Shack.

Last evening I tried (one last attempt) to use the phone for a long distance call, 10 minute conversation and 3 times I was dropped. I then had 2 friends send me text, neither of which has arrived after 15 hours. I sent myself a text and it arrived after 42 minutes. Today is May 16th and text and the long distance issues have obvioulsy not been resolved.

I would strongly suggest that at this time no one sign up for Boost Mobile Unlimited if you want, need or expect to use your phone for phone calls and/or text messaging.

I don't think my expectations were too high. I wasn't interested in bells and whistles, just wanted a cell phone on which I can make phone calls and send and receive text messages. Text messaging is supposed to be a quick form of communication. A cell service on which text never arrive or take longer than a few minutes to arrive is of no use to me at my job or at home. My initial $50 of unlimited service runs out on May 2oth. I will not be Reboosting.

I have purchased a new Virgin Mobile pay as you go phone. Virgin Mobile is the cell carrier I'd used for 2 years before switching to Boost and never had issues with phone calls or text messaging except for a delayed text on the day that Obama was inaugurated which was understandable. I hope that Virgin Mobiles new unlimited plan won't degrade their up to this point very solid and excellent service.

I wish my Boost Motorola i335 had a flashlight feature because at least then I'd have something minimally useful for my over $100 expenditure.

I bought the Boost plan thinking everything was going to be great also, but come to find out there are many issues. Lets start with the positives.
Decent looking phones that are cheap.
Unlimited calling, text, "internet"

Now for my gripes.

You must dial an area code before every call... completely rediculous and irritating.

The so-called internet is in fact an extremely limited mobile web in which many of the links that are preinstalled on the phone do not load. CNN is the only site I was able to read news on.

My text messaging basically does not work. Occasionally I will recieve a text message but most of the time I never receive them. On top of that, most people do not receive mine either.

Lots of Friday nights I will get a network busy message when trying to make calls, over and over again. Many times I have been unable to make a call for an hour or more. In addition to this, during these times, people will get transferred to my voicemail so I am apparantly not receiving calls either. This happens all the time.

I have the i335 phone and the battery is CRAP! You will be charging this sucker every day if you use it at all.

Overall I am completely unsatified with this phone. The only way I would recommend this phone is to someone who has a kid that uses thousands of minutes per month or something because the unlimited text and unilited web are nonexistent.

I hope that another network comes out with a prepaid unlimited soon. As an aside I was also hoping boost would have blackberries.... nope.

Yep, so i thought the plan was to good to be true.
Only thing I can do as of now is make / recieve calls. The store clerk activated it for me, I've had this phone 1 day now and cannot send / recieve any texts. Had a friend send me a pic, nothing ever showed, everytime I try to text it says ''Out of Service'' ... he was sitting right next to me and both of us had full bars of service... smells like bullshit!

I was tired of paying for overages so I thought I would give Boost a try.

Being that text messages have to be downloaded...you will not receive a text if you are on the line (if ever) until the call is hung up (or dropped). This is a problem if all phone calls are not short and your are waiting on a text message.

I am looking foward to going with a more RELIABLE company. With BOOST you get exactly what you pay for!

i was just told that it takes 24 - 72 hours from activation before text and web are available........that to me is b.s., please tell me that this has gotten better for you.

i was just told that it takes 24 - 72 hours from activation before text and web are available........that to me is b.s., please tell me that this has gotten better for you.

I have been a long time Boost user. However, I was using the KRZR, which is a CDMA phone and therefore uses the Sprint CDMA side of things. My phone broke, and am now looking to get an i335. That of course means I will be going to the iDEN side, which has the noted text issues.

If you like Boost because of unlimited everything, then get a CDMA based phone. The only phone that Boost currently sells is a Motorola 385 (or 835, I'm slightly dyslexic...). I have NEVER, had a problem with Boost's CDMA side. I would do about 7,000 texts (receiving/outgoing) a month, and with the CDMA network, I have never had an issue with Boost's text messaging.

The only reason I am going to get an iDEN phone is:

1. I dont like text messaging (even though I do about 7,000 a month); I like to hear someone's voice because then there's somewhat of an accountablity, since i use my phone for business 99% of the time. And hey, looking on the positive side of things, people will now HAVE to call me since texts are delayed (gotta look on the bright side of things, right?)

2. PTT. the walkie talkie feature is something that interests me and can be of great use since this phone will mainly be used for business, and I need to be in constant, consistent and quick communication with my guys.

3. Rugged phones. I don't know about you, but somehow every single phone I've had in the past has broken. No matter how delicate I was, even the littlest bumps or drops seem to happen, and it's always those innocent little mishaps that break the phone. Mil-Spec durability is a win in book...

In closing. Do NOT knock Boost!!! They offer a CDMA phone. If you don't really need walkie talkie/Direct Connect, then get a CDMA phone and you will have the absolute BEST cell phone plan AND coverage available for an unlimited no contract service.

Period.

I have been a long time Boost user. However, I was using the KRZR, which is a CDMA phone and therefore uses the Sprint CDMA side of things. My phone broke, and am now looking to get an i335. That of course means I will be going to the iDEN side, which has the noted text issues.

If you like Boost because of unlimited everything, then get a CDMA based phone. The only phone that Boost currently sells is a Motorola 385 (or 835, I'm slightly dyslexic...). I have NEVER, had a problem with Boost's CDMA side. I would do about 7,000 texts (receiving/outgoing) a month, and with the CDMA network, I have never had an issue with Boost's text messaging.

The only reason I am going to get an iDEN phone is:

1. I dont like text messaging (even though I do about 7,000 a month); I like to hear someone's voice because then there's somewhat of an accountablity, since i use my phone for business 99% of the time. And hey, looking on the positive side of things, people will now HAVE to call me since texts are delayed (gotta look on the bright side of things, right?)

2. PTT. the walkie talkie feature is something that interests me and can be of great use since this phone will mainly be used for business, and I need to be in constant, consistent and quick communication with my guys.

3. Rugged phones. I don't know about you, but somehow every single phone I've had in the past has broken. No matter how delicate I was, even the littlest bumps or drops seem to happen, and it's always those innocent little mishaps that break the phone. Mil-Spec durability is a win in book...

In closing. Do NOT knock Boost!!! They offer a CDMA phone. If you don't really need walkie talkie/Direct Connect, then get a CDMA phone and you will have the absolute BEST cell phone plan AND coverage available for an unlimited no contract service.

Period.

Going with a Boost CDMA phone is your best bet. No issues at all with calls or text whatsoever. Get a CDMA phone from Boost for now. I have used Boost for a very very long time. I have faith in them and Sprint, and I have faith that by the time CDMA gets fully phased out (if it actually will get phased out that is...) the iDEN text issues will be resolved. Sprint will not risk losing business to some other companies (like Metro *gasp*) because of texting. They recognize this is a huge market to capture, so they will fix the delayed texting. Have faith, until then, use their CDMA phone...