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What text messaging packages do you have?

Text messaging is now included in our Connect! plans.

	Messages	Data (Web)	Monthly Charge
Connect! Lite	100	10MB (check the web 1-2 times per day)	$2.50
Connect! Ready	500	50MB (check the web 5-6 times per day)	$5.00
Connect! Active	1,000	100MB (check the web 10-12 times per day)	$10.00
Connect! Complete	4,000	400MB (check the web 40-47 times per day)	$20.00
Connect! Max	10,000	1GB (check the web 104-120 times per day)	$30.00

Other Notes:

• Charges occur on outgoing and incoming text messages to a U.S. phone number.
• Text messages over 160 characters are divided into multiple text messages. Each message is charged separately.
• Family Share—If you are on a family share plan, all package text messages are shared among all the phones on your account.
• International Text—Outgoing international text messages are not included in the messaging packs listed above. They are charged separately at 20¢ per message. Incoming international text messages are included in the messaging packs.
• You can set up Usage Alerts so you know when you’ve used up all the text messages on your plan. Just log in to My Account and select “Manage Usage Alerts.” If you find you are using more text messages than you thought, you can always change to a different plan.
• Altering Services—Data or messaging may be turned on or off by phone. Just log in to My Account and select “Change Services.” Turning off one of the services for a selected phone, or for all phones, does not affect the price of the plan.
• Note: Due to the extremely large amount of data required to watch videos (on Netflix or YouTube), stream music, or download large files, these activities are not recommended with our data service plans.

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How do I add text messaging to my phone?

You can add text and picture messaging to your phone through our Connect! plans, which also include wireless web access:

1. Log in to My Account.
2. Click “Change Services” in the box on the right.
3. Select the Connect! plan that best fits your needs.
4. Select “Messaging” and “Data (Web)” for the different phones on your plan. You can decide which phones receive each service. Turning off one of the services for a selected phone, or for all phones, does not affect the price of the plan.
5. Click “Submit.”

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How do I use text/picture messaging?

You can use your cell phone to send and receive text messages of up to 160 characters. See complete pricing information for text messaging.

• Text Messaging To exchange text messages with another cell phone that is capable of text messaging, simply use the 10-digit cell phone number as the message recipient address.
  

  View a video on sending and receiving text messages:
  Doro PhoneEasy 345 | Doro PhoneEasy 410 | Motorola EM330 | Motorola KRZR | Motorola W259 | Motorola WX345 | Nokia 2760 | Nokia 6085 | Samsung A697 | Motorola Bravo

• Picture Messaging Every phone is different—for specific instructions on sending picture messages, download your phone’s manual from the Phone Manuals page. Essentially this is how picture messaging works:
  1. Select the camera icon on your phone.
  2. Take a picture.
  3. Select “Send.”
  4. Enter the recipient’s phone number or select one of your Contacts.
  5. Press “Send” to send the picture.

  View a video on taking and sending pictures:
  Motorola EM330 | Motorola KRZR | Motorola WX345 | Nokia 6085 | Nokia 2760 | Samsung A697

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How do I use Usage Alerts to manage my usage?

You can eliminate the worry and surprise of big cell phone bills due to overages. Just set up Usage Alerts to inform you when your usage approaches your plan’s minutes. Then you can decide if you need to upgrade your plan or reduce your usage. It’s easy to set up and it’s completely free.

1. Log in to My Account
2. Click “Manage Usage Alerts Settings.”
3. Choose your alert type(s):
   • Email
   • Text message
4. Choose when you want to be alerted:
   • 75% of your included minutes, text messages or wireless web usage.
   • 100%
   • 125%
   • 150%
5. Click “Save Changes.”

That’s all there is to it. The alerts are free—we won’t even charge you for the text messages. Not only that, unlike other cell phone companies, we let you change your plan retroactively to the start of your current bill period so you can get the best possible pricing.

Note: Due to the extremely large amount of data required to watch videos (on Netflix or YouTube), stream music, or download large files, these activities are not recommended with our data service plans.

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How do I stop unwanted text messages?

To stop unwanted messages, you can remove Messaging from your phone:

1. Login to My Account.
2. Click “Change Services.” in the box on the right.
3. Scroll down to the “Allowing Messaging and Data (Web) Usage” section and uncheck “Messaging” for phone(s) that you don't want to receive text messages.
4. Click “Change Your Services”.

Please understand that even if you remove Messaging from your phone, your phone may still be able to receive text messages simply by being connected to the cell phone network. We currently have no way of completely disabling the phone’s ability to receive text messages because the cell phone system uses the same method to send necessary service-related downloads and information to your phone. If you continue to have problems, our only other option is to issue you a new cell phone number.

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Can I send video messages using my phone?

You can send picture/video messages using your cell phone if your phone is capable of taking pictures/video. The Nokia 2760, Nokia 2680, Motorola WX345, Motorola Bravo, Motorola EM330, Motorola KRZR (no longer sold), the Samsung A177 and the Samsung A697 all support sending picture/video messages. A data plan is required for your account in order to send picture or video messages. Essentially this is how picture/video messaging works:

1. Select the camera/video icon on your phone.
2. Take a picture/video.
3. Select “Send.”
4. Enter the recipient’s phone number or select one of your Contacts.
5. Press “Send” to send the picture/video.

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Can I send multimedia messages (MMS) using my Consumer Cellular phone?

You can send picture/video messages using your cell phone if your phone is capable of taking pictures/video. The Nokia 2760, Nokia 2680, Motorola WX345, Motorola Bravo, Motorola EM330, Motorola KRZR (no longer sold), the Samsung A177 and the Samsung A697 all support sending picture/video messages. A data plan is required for your account in order to send picture or video messages. Essentially this is how picture/video messaging works:

1. Select the camera/video icon on your phone.
2. Take a picture/video.
3. Select “Send.”
4. Enter the recipient’s phone number or select one of your Contacts.
5. Press “Send” to send the picture/video.

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Can I send picture messages using my Consumer Cellular phone?

You can send picture/video messages using your cell phone if your phone is capable of taking pictures/video. The Nokia 2760, Nokia 2680, Motorola WX345, Motorola Bravo, Motorola EM330, Motorola KRZR (no longer sold), the Samsung A177 and the Samsung A697 all support sending picture/video messages. A data plan is required for your account in order to send picture or video messages. Essentially this is how picture/video messaging works:

1. Select the camera/video icon on your phone.
2. Take a picture/video.
3. Select “Send.”
4. Enter the recipient’s phone number or select one of your Contacts.
5. Press “Send” to send the picture/video.

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I have a non-Consumer Cellular phone. How do I set up messaging and web access?

If you are using your own phone with your Consumer Cellular plan, you can sign up for one of our Connect! plans for messaging and web browsing:

1. Sign up for the Connect! service:
1. Log in to My Account.
2. Click "Change Services" in the box on the right.
3. Select the Connect! plan that best fits your needs.
4. Select “Messaging” and "Data (Web)" for the different phones on your plan. You can decide which phones receive each service. Turning off one of the services for a selected phone, or for all phones, does not affect the price of the plan.
5. Click "Submit."
2. Configure your phone to work with the Connect! service. Each phone is different, so you will need to refer to your phone’s user manual to find out how to change the following settings:

Service Name	MMS	Web
Proxy Address	proxy.mvno.ccmobileweb.com	<blank>
Proxy Port	80	<blank>
Proxy Push	Disabled	Enabled
Authentication Type	Secure	Secure
Username (CSD/GPRS)	<blank>	<blank>
Password (CSD/GPRS)	<blank>	<blank>
GPRS access point	att.mvno	att.mvno
Homepage	http://mmsc.cingular.com	http://mmsc.cingular.com

Other Notes:

1. Our Connect! service is a great deal for casual data use. However we do not offer unlimited plans for heavy data use, such as watching videos or listening to streaming audio.
2. Please understand that, while our Customer Service representatives do everything they can to help solve customers' problems, they are not trained in setting up phones that do not come with the Consumer Cellular service.
3. Many phones that are compatible with our service will allow you to modify the settings and begin using our picture messaging and web service. However, there are some phones that will not work. If you have difficulties we can help you select one of our affordable data capable phones that are fully supported.

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