Any way to disable text messaging SMS?

rudeney · #1 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009, 01:27 PM

I have an Apache running 6.1 and would like to totally disable text messaging. Basially, it's my granddaughter's phone and she is being punished for bad grades. She needs the phone for safety reasons, but she doesn't need to be able to send and receive SMS for a while! I would disable it through Verizon, but they want me to change plans, then pay $4.99/mo for "usage controls". I'd rahter have a "technology" solution if anyone has one!

**rstoyguy** · #2 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009, 01:37 PM

I guess ya can't beat em anymore, but how about you take away the technology? And as a side effect, since your concerned about her safety...that would cause her to stay at home as well. When I was young, grounding me to home was the ultimate way to dish out pain...

**rstoyguy** · #3 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009, 01:38 PM

Or just copy a bogus file over tmail.exe and that should cause text messaging not to open...

rudeney · #4 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstoyguy

Or just copy a bogus file over tmail.exe and that should cause text messaging not to open...

Thanks, that's what I needed!

The punishment is over grades. As she gets older (14 now), she is becoming more "social" and less "studious". Over the last three years, she's gone from mostly A's and a few B's, to mostly B's and a C and now she has two D's this term. All unnecessary technology (laptop, iPod, and SMS) is being taken away until the grades come back up.

She walks home from school while her parents are at work and they don't have a landline phone. She still needs a way to check-in when she gets home and to call in case of an emergency, so the cell phone is "necessary". Otherwise, it would be taken away. Oh, and I like the idea of giving her an old phone. I used to have a Motorola Ultra Classic. How "un-cool" would it be to have to lug one of those around these days?

As for Verizon, they do allow text messaging to be disabled for free. The problem is, it would be on our entire account (and we actually pay for unlimited messaging). The only alternative is to pay extra for "account controls" that will allow all sorts of limits to be placed on her phone. I'd actually do that, except our "legacy" plan would need to be upgraded and I don't want change anything right now. We're only a few months from the end of our contract, which is when I typically have the most bargaining power to get new phones and better rates.

Thanks for the help (and the laughs)!

**PDAPhoneJunkie** · #5 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudeney

Thanks, that's what I needed!

The punishment is over grades. As she gets older (14 now), she is becoming more "social" and less "studious". Over the last three years, she's gone from mostly A's and a few B's, to mostly B's and a C and now she has two D's this term. All unnecessary technology (laptop, iPod, and SMS) is being taken away until the grades come back up.

She walks home from school while her parents are at work and they don't have a landline phone. She still needs a way to check-in when she gets home and to call in case of an emergency, so the cell phone is "necessary". Otherwise, it would be taken away. Oh, and I like the idea of giving her an old phone. I used to have a Motorola Ultra Classic. How "un-cool" would it be to have to lug one of those around these days?

As for Verizon, they do allow text messaging to be disabled for free. The problem is, it would be on our entire account (and we actually pay for unlimited messaging). The only alternative is to pay extra for "account controls" that will allow all sorts of limits to be placed on her phone. I'd actually do that, except our "legacy" plan would need to be upgraded and I don't want change anything right now. We're only a few months from the end of our contract, which is when I typically have the most bargaining power to get new phones and better rates.

Thanks for the help (and the laughs)!

Aww. At least she isn't failing... And she is very luckly to have an Apache...

**weedahoe** · #6 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009, 02:31 PM

Wow. VZW cant block the SMS service anymore? Thats crazy. I know there are apps that will take the SMS and encrypt it so you cant read it without entering the right password but she could still send (just wouldnt get anything back)

**PDAPhoneJunkie** · #7 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009, 03:11 PM

That's verizon for you. Always wanting to 10 and 20 their customers...

**Hafrust** · #8 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009, 03:16 PM

coolwhip1220 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009, 03:43 PM

Oh wow, I think I almost peed myself a little just now. The way I have disabled texting is putting the "do nothing" application in place of the text application.

**PDAPhoneJunkie** · #10 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009, 03:35 PM

Hahaha that's the way to do it. When I had the Apache they told me I should upgrade to the Mogul so I could use a card bigger than 2gb. I laughed so hard at that stupid chick because I had them SHDC drivers for months using a four gig card...