This one is especially for Zipper
Appreciate all of you past comments. Nice to see such a fan of the service.
Please let me try and explain something to you all. fastxt is NOT sms. fastxt messages are sent through the GPRS server and cost on average and dependant on the length of the message less than 1p. Setting sms aside for the moment, our �5.99 package will allow you send unlimited messages. The message limitation doesnt come from fastxt, it comes from your GPRS package. A 1/2MB GPRS package will allow you to send between 2000 and 4000 messages per month.
SMS messages are integrated into your package to allow you to communicate with friends/contacts that are not fastxt users. SMS as a data bearer is totally different to fastxt GPRS. In our standard package we give away 500 free text messages. 100 per month. It states this on the website.
So, �5.99 per month for fastxt, �4.00 for GPRS. Thats �9.99 per month. For this you can send more messages than you can probably cope with. What does �9.99 buy you from an operator? 100 sms? 150 tops.
You mentioned the 'echo' in the messages screen. This is sent via the client software so you dont pay to receive your own message. This works on a similar basis to MS Exchange, if you send a message to yourself it doesnt enter the public network. The software is smart enough to know you are sending a message to yourself so sends it least cost.
In reply to your comments about 'why not just use IM+'
IM+ is an interface to a range of PC based IM services. If you dont have a PC based account you cant use IM on your phone. It is also limited to the services that each of these providers offer. For example the maximum amount of people that you can include on a chat is about 3 with some of these.
Fastxt works in a slightly different way in that it is completely independant of a fixed line IM service. You dont even need a PC to use fastxt. We also allow greater features, ie you can include over 250 people on a single chat. We have a store and forward facility so offline users can still send or receive messages when they log on again if they go offline or switch their phone off. Increased character limits for extra long messages. You will soon be able to send messages to more that one PC client at a time. It integrates with sms and we will be bringing out other services soon such as voice based instant messaging, pictures, email, games etc.
All of this also independant of fixed line IMs and mobile operators and their squabbling over interoperability. Why only settle for the ability to IM or communicate with users on the same network.
I have also just come back from the Mobile IM conference in Amsterdam.
All UK operators plan to charge the same amount for mobile IM messages as they are for sms. They will be charging you 10p per message. Even more if you use presence notification services and even more if you send to a group.
I am sure you can all work out how much money they will make out of you for these services.
Now whilst i appreciate your considerable efforts to aquire a free service from us, it wont work. As any subscriber will tell you fastxt arrives on your phone in two parts. 1st part is the application. 2nd part of a configuration message that can only be generated from our server when you sign up. This contains your username, password, settings etc. So if you have managed to get someone to send you a copy of the application, it wont work. If it does, i'll cut you off for not paying.
This OTA configuration message is the reason we cannot sell on Handango, we are working on this though.
For those of you who have 3650 phones, fastxt is and always has been compatable. The P800 will be available shortly as will the T720.
I know our website could do with a little more work but we are working on this as we speak. By the way all screenshots on our website are taken from the actual application. These have not been modified in any way.
I hope this clears up any confusion over fastxt. In short, we are saving you money and will save you even more money when the operators launch their mobile IM services. If its not for you then fine.
I have tried to be as polite as i can to Zipper after reading his previous comments, if this note offends admin then please remove it but some of the information contained may be useful for current, happy subscripbers of fastxt and hopefully future subscribers.