[taf2]

T-mobile was the main driver for all the user fees against every smb in the US though… IMO they did the most damage to text messaging as a reliable method of reaching a customer…. Telco industry is massive so yes break them all up

[Johnny555]

As a consumer, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, I don't want businesses to find it cheap and easy to reach me by text message.

[no_wizard]

For ads, I don't. For customer support however, a verified phone number (that I can look up myself, easily, perhaps as part of a FCC website function, for example) would be a huge win though.

I used the Apple Business Chat feature for support for a shipping issue I had recently with Everlane and it was actually amazing. It had its own verified icon, so I knew it wasn't a scam, I could answer when I was able, and they were able to respond as they were able (though, I did find it quite timely, even when I wasn't) and not at all did I have to call someone, or talk talk to a chatbot (as far as I could tell anyway). It was a seamless experience and it got my issue resolved.

I personally like this model of customer support. No reason this can't extend to SMS

[swells34]

Honestly, with things being as they are, I think the general sentiment of customers is that they do NOT want customer outreach; or, they want a single, high quality, hand written outreach. Apparently we don't like being brow-beaten into purchasing anymore. Basically, like being treated as something other than cash cows.