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EMPLOYEE
Changes for SMS users: the good news and the bad
Let's start with the bad news. Beginning today, Twitter is no longer delivering outbound SMS over our UK number. If you have been receiving SMS updates from Twitter via +44 762 480 1423, you'll notice that they've stopped and you may want to explore some of the alternatives we're suggesting.
Note: Updating via our UK number remains fully supported and these changes do not affect users in Canada, India, or the United States.
Before we go into more detail, here's the good news. Twitter will be introducing several new, local SMS numbers in countries throughout Europe in the coming weeks and months. These new numbers will make Twittering more accessible for all the folks who have been using SMS to send long-distance updates through our UK number.
Why Stop Sending SMS To Some Countries?
Mobile operators in most of the world charge users to send updates. When you send one message to Twitter and we send it to ten followers, you aren't charged ten times—that's because we've been footing the bill. When we launched our free SMS service to the world, we set the clock ticking. As the service grew in popularity, so too would the price.
Our challenge during this window of time was to establish relationships with mobile operators around the world such that our SMS services could become sustainable from a cost perspective. We achieved this goal in Canada, India, and the United States. We can provide full incoming and outgoing SMS service without passing along operator fees in these countries.
We took a risk hoping to bring more nations onboard and more mobile operators around to our way of thinking but we've arrived at a point where the responsible thing to do is slow our costs and take a different approach. If you don't live in Canada, India, or the US, then we recommend receiving your Twitter updates via one of the following methods.
It pains us to take this measure. However, we need to avoid placing undue burden on our company and our service. Even with a limit of 250 messages received per week, it could cost Twitter about $1,000 per user, per year to send SMS outside of Canada, India, or the US. It makes more sense for us to establish fair billing arrangements with mobile operators than it does to pass these high fees on to our users.
Twitter will continue to negotiate with mobile operators in Europe, Asia, China, and The Americas to forge relationships that benefit all our users. Our goal is to provide full, two-way service with Twitter via SMS to every nation in a way that is sustainable from a cost perspective. Talks with mobile companies around the world continue. In the meantime, more local numbers for updating via SMS are on the way. We'll keep you posted.
Note: Updating via our UK number remains fully supported and these changes do not affect users in Canada, India, or the United States.
Before we go into more detail, here's the good news. Twitter will be introducing several new, local SMS numbers in countries throughout Europe in the coming weeks and months. These new numbers will make Twittering more accessible for all the folks who have been using SMS to send long-distance updates through our UK number.
Why Stop Sending SMS To Some Countries?
Mobile operators in most of the world charge users to send updates. When you send one message to Twitter and we send it to ten followers, you aren't charged ten times—that's because we've been footing the bill. When we launched our free SMS service to the world, we set the clock ticking. As the service grew in popularity, so too would the price.
Our challenge during this window of time was to establish relationships with mobile operators around the world such that our SMS services could become sustainable from a cost perspective. We achieved this goal in Canada, India, and the United States. We can provide full incoming and outgoing SMS service without passing along operator fees in these countries.
We took a risk hoping to bring more nations onboard and more mobile operators around to our way of thinking but we've arrived at a point where the responsible thing to do is slow our costs and take a different approach. If you don't live in Canada, India, or the US, then we recommend receiving your Twitter updates via one of the following methods.
- m.twitter.com works on browser-enabled phones
- m.slandr.net works on browser-enabled phones
- TwitterMail works on email-enabled phones
- Cellity works on java-enabled phones
- TwitterBerry works on BlackBerry brand phones
- Twitterific works on iPhones
- Twitter SMS by The Numbers
It pains us to take this measure. However, we need to avoid placing undue burden on our company and our service. Even with a limit of 250 messages received per week, it could cost Twitter about $1,000 per user, per year to send SMS outside of Canada, India, or the US. It makes more sense for us to establish fair billing arrangements with mobile operators than it does to pass these high fees on to our users.
Twitter will continue to negotiate with mobile operators in Europe, Asia, China, and The Americas to forge relationships that benefit all our users. Our goal is to provide full, two-way service with Twitter via SMS to every nation in a way that is sustainable from a cost perspective. Talks with mobile companies around the world continue. In the meantime, more local numbers for updating via SMS are on the way. We'll keep you posted.
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Due to volume, only the 15 most recent replies are being displayed
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Inappropriate?Putting feelers out there for my imminent launch of TweetBoxLive, a new Twitter SMS service initially for the UK during first week, then branching out to other countries. -
Inappropriate?You know what .. twitter was being dumb thats why it was unsustainable .. using a UK number to update Australia and the rest of Europe .. if they just used the UK for the UK the UK would still have it !!! I mean comon .. most of the UK has had free SMS for MANY years now !
I’m amazed at stupidity!
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Inappropriate?Still nothing in this front.
In fact, it seems worse ( http://blog.twitter.com/2008/11/oh-ca... ).
Maybe they are thinking if people wait long enough, they will eventually forget.
Please keep us update with real information... It's the Web 2.something, the XXI century, not an old telephone company. Users want and need to know.
I’m frustrated with the way this is beeing handled
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Inappropriate?I'm pretty new with twitter, but it's getting quite popular in Bucharest, Romania. I just wanted to get my updates on my phone and I found out this. I really hope that you get a great deal with Vodafone or Orange and bring this service here too. I'm really confident in you guys ;)
I’m confident
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Inappropriate?Im in the us and cant get any text to my phone. I have the instinct, something about my phone is not supported! wtf -
Inappropriate?This thread is 8 months old and off-topic to what you want. It's about not sending out SMS messages to the UK. Your question is about being in the US and not getting texts. You'd probably be better off starting a new thread and list your carrier along with your phone type.
I’m hoping this helps
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Inappropriate?Using your webservice I can build my own SMS service, right? Like everyone is doing with apps...
I’m excited
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Inappropriate?Seems like service has been restored to some countries, but still no word on UK SMS service.
Come on...
I’m disillusioned
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Inappropriate?sooo receive an sms is not free any more? Or the "sending" part the most expensive?
I’m strange
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Inappropriate?It's available to receive messages for free in America, Canada and the UK. In the UK, it is available only to people on O2 or Vodaphone.
I’m happy
