[Fig]

So I went out and picked up a Blackberry 8703e on my own nickel, and have had it for a few weeks now, and just logged on to check my usage. I see that I have the BB Unlimited Data plan and Unlimited Text Messaging, which are correct. Here's the surprise, I check my usage, and I have 0 Text messages out of Unlimited allowed, and 33 Casual SMS messages out of 0 allowed. I thought I had been text messaging all along.

I was going on the BB into the Address Book, and now I see that I was hitting SMS [entry]. Work sends me text messages as well, but evidently they are shownig up as SMS messages now, when they were text messages on my old phone. How do I text message? My son is on the same plan as me with a different phone, and we were what I thought was text messaging back and forth the other day, but I have 0 text messages. He has only Text Messages listed on his portion of the bill. So how was I SMS messaging and he text messaging?

I am really confused about the difference. I read a number of SMS and Text messaging threads, and am just not getting it. What's the difference, and how do I go back to just old text messaging between phones?

[akg]

Text messages and SMS messages are the same thing. SMS stands for "Short Message Service" and is often referred to as "text messages" and the verb being "texting". Your plan may not keep track of your text messages because they are unlimited. I've never had Sprint so I really don't know what a Casual SMS message is.

[Fig]

I spent about an hour on the phone with Sprint last night, and got nowhere. The Blackberry tech that I ended up speaking with couldn't tell me whether or not I was going to be charged for these. My billing period ends on the 10th, so I will see what shows up on my bill for this cycle. I was told by the tech support guy to keep a screenshot so that I could prove my case if needed.

[AnthroMatt]

Typical Sprint. I feel your pain. Good service, affordable, and horrible billing.

Casual SMS is the name given to text messages sent without a text message plan. I think your unlimited messaging has been improperly set up. If you had unlimited SMS before you got the BlackBerry, the Sprint reps would have needed to switch your SMS plan, because the codes for a BB SMS plan are different than for a regular phone. Or at least they used to be...don't ask me why. It sounds like the SMS option has not been properly set up, but maybe it will resolve itself once you get your bill.