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Be Smart Before You Text 'Be Mine'

Spending Less on Text Messaging

ATLANTA, GA -- January 22, 2009 -- Just in time for Valentine's Day (traditionally the busiest text messaging day of the year), MyRatePlan.com, a comparison website for cell phone and other household services, announces the launch of a new interactive calculator to help consumers locate the most cost-effective text messaging plan offered by their cell phone service provider. This free tool is located at http://www.myrateplan.com/text_messaging.

Aside from talking, text messaging is the most popular cell phone application, and that popularity has only grown over the past couple years as phones with full QWERTY keyboards (real or touch screen) have become more and more popular with consumers. During the same period, however, most national cell phone service providers have doubled their a la carte rate for messaging, from $0.10 to $0.20 per message sent or received. This can quickly run up a cell phone bill for those consumers who have not migrated to the right text messaging package offered by their cell phone provider.

"As with voice cell phone plans, the cost of not having the right text messaging plan can be substantial," said Allan Keiter, president of MyRatePlan.com. "For those not on a messaging plan, sending or receiving just four messages a day can result in over $200 in unnecessary charges over the course of a year."

In just a few seconds, the MyRatePlan software estimates the monthly cost for text messaging on each plan currently marketed by a consumer's cell phone provider, based on the number of text messages sent and received. It highlights the lowest-cost option and can calculate annual savings.

About MyRatePlan.com

MyRatePlan.com (www.myrateplan.com) gives consumers the facts they need to make more informed buying decisions about household services. Whether evaluating cell phone plans, high speed Internet, satellite TV, credit cards, VoIP or other services, MyRatePlan helps consumers save time, money and fuel by enabling these comparisons from the comfort of home.