Sprint's newest SMS rate: 20 cents

Sprint Nextel is pushing ever closer to the price of a regular postage stamp when it comes to text messages: The carrier will charge 20 cents per SMS starting October 1. Unlike the last time the carrier raised its messaging fees, subscribers will not be able to get out of their contracts without paying their early termination fee (ETF), because the contract now states that the change to the contract terms needs to be "material" to warrant an ETF-less exit.

The rate hike applies to casual SMS fees, which are currently 15 cents, as well as to overage SMS charges for subscribers who have texting packages. Overage SMS charges, however, are jumping from 10 cents to 20 cents per message.

Sprint led the wave of SMS fee hikes when it changed the per message fee from 10 cents to 15 cents last October. Verizon Wireless, AT&T/Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile USA all raised their SMS fees to match Sprint within months. Do you think they will do the same this time around or is 20 cents pushing it too far?

For more on Sprint's SMS rate hike:
- read this article from RCR News