topic Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile? in Get Support

Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

ichor — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 10:07:50 GMT

Keeping in mind, my phone is from pre-2001 and doesn't do fancy things like talk to the internet. I'm very happy with my phone as it still has a battery life measured in months rather than days.

I got a funny looking text from the number 5129. A quick search tells me this is sometimes used by Public Mobile. But instead of being under 150 bytes, it's 89K and I cannot open it.

I wouldn't normally care, but my big concern is that I'm in BC and we are having some serious issues with the weather this month and I worry this might be some part of the emergency alert system.

It's raining so hard today even my ducks are fed up with the weather. It probably would be good to know if there are any alerts I should care about.

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

dabr — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 20:04:06 GMT

@ichor wrote:
Keeping in mind, my phone is from pre-2001 and doesn't do fancy things like talk to the internet. I'm very happy with my phone as it still has a battery life measured in months rather than days.

I got a funny looking text from the number 5129. A quick search tells me this is sometimes used by Public Mobile. But instead of being under 150 bytes, it's 89K and I cannot open it.

I wouldn't normally care, but my big concern is that I'm in BC and we are having some serious issues with the weather this month and I worry this might be some part of the emergency alert system.

It's raining so hard today even my ducks are fed up with the weather. It probably would be good to know if there are any alerts I should care about.

@ichor Yes that is a PM shortcode for texting...it might be MMS message, so you'd need to enable data on your phone to download and open.

Edi: @ichor So just looked to see what messages PM delivers from the number and it's just a mandatory notice they send to all customers regarding unresolved complaints about your telecom service and how to file a complaint with the CCTS.

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

ichor — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 19:51:26 GMT

Thanks.

My phone is pre-data so I don't think I can do that.

Just checking this isn't an emergency alert thing that they say we need to pay attention to this week. They've never used them in BC before so I don't even know if they can come to my phone or not.

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

dabr — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 19:58:18 GMT

@ichor wrote:
Thanks.
My phone is pre-data so I don't think I can do that.

Just checking this isn't an emergency alert thing that they say we need to pay attention to this week. They've never used them in BC before so I don't even know if they can come to my phone or not.

@ichor Not an emergency alert so don't worry. That number is used for promotional info/offers though so you might want to contact customer support to see what it might be if you're interested.

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

t_p — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 19:58:51 GMT

@ichor wrote:
Thanks.
My phone is pre-data so I don't think I can do that.

Just checking this isn't an emergency alert thing that they say we need to pay attention to this week. They've never used them in BC before so I don't even know if they can come to my phone or not.

@ichor

I'm more inclined to think the message is some promos advertising from PM like the one I received earlier this week.

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

ichor — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 20:03:41 GMT

Thank you all.

I feel better.

One day the battery in this phone will fail and I'll get a smartphone. But the problem is smartphones can't pick up a signal here, so I delay as long as possible.

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

hTideGnow — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 20:04:08 GMT

shortcode 5129 should be Telus promotion only. At least some people back in 2018 got Koodo promotion from 5129.

Yes, if it is an MMS , you will need Mobile data turned on. If you phone is not capable, you would not be able to see.

However, i think any alert system would be just using SMS and not MMS., so, you should be good

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

pkaraa — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 21:24:09 GMT

Weather is indeed tricky these days in BC but dont worry the emergency text will be shown on the locked screen as well it wont be an MMS which can not be seen on a phone without internet.

As mentioned it could be a promo in picture which you are not able to open, if you are looking to change the plan then give PM a call and find out.

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

Yummy — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 22:39:51 GMT

@ichor wrote:
My phone is pre-data so I don't think I can do that.

Any chance you can post image of your 'pre 2001' phone here? I am curious to see what are you still using?

But be aware: resistance if futile! Smartphones are taking over the word! And human's brains...😋😎😁

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

ichor — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 22:45:59 GMT

@Yummy wrote:
@ichor wrote:
My phone is pre-data so I don't think I can do that.
Any chance you can post image of your 'pre 2001' phone here? I am curious to see what are you still using?

But be aware: resistance if futile! Smartphones are taking over the word! And human's brains...😋😎😁

Just an old Samson flip phone from the late 1990s.

One day I may have to get a smartphone. Although, to be frank, I would rather have no phone at all. I can't use a touchscreen and there is zero attraction to having one. If someone needs me so badly they can't wait to talk to me until I get home, then what they really need is to phone 911.

I only have the old phone to call the auto repair if I break down. And because now some services need two-factor login instead of just an email and password like the old days. That's why I upgraded to Public, my old cell provider charged me for receiving texts (and then send me junk mail via text which I had to pay for).

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 23:08:25 GMT

I've only ever got the CCTS thing from that number.

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

darlicious — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 23:31:33 GMT

@ichor

Lol...looks like @Anonymous beat me to it. If you recieved it this past Friday it was the CCTS mandated text. BC doesn't currently use the alert system except for tsunamis but they are developing a plan to use it for atmospheric rivers. They didn't even bother to test the alert ready system on radio, tv or cell phones on the 17th like the rest of the country did which is rather worriesome. Heres the text you missed.

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

ichor — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 23:33:06 GMT

@darlicious wrote:
@ichor
Lol...looks like @Anonymous beat me to it. If you recieved it this past Friday it was the CCTS mandated text. BC doesn't currently use the alert system except for tsunamis but they are developing a plan to use it for atmospheric rivers. They didn't even bother to test the alert ready system on radio, tv or cell phones on the 17th like the rest of the country did which is rather worriesome. Heres the text you missed.

Thanks.

I don't feel so bad about missing that.

Strange they couldn't send that normal text style like they do the regular 611 updates.

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

darlicious — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 23:42:28 GMT

@ichor

Agreed. I'm pretty sure my flip phone recieved them as a regular SMS.

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 23:49:01 GMT

Maybe it's too long for some phones?

I don't think it's correct to say that BC doesn't do alert tests. I think it was an exception that the last test was around about the monsoon. One could argue that a monsoon could be worthy of a proper alert though.

This is my current device history:

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

darlicious — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 23:56:26 GMT

@Anonymous

Wow...you have gotten a heck of a lot more than me. Are some of yours wildfire related?

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

ichor — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 23:58:30 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Maybe it's too long for some phones?
I don't think it's correct to say that BC doesn't do alert tests. I think it was an exception that the last test was around about the monsoon. One could argue that a monsoon could be worthy of a proper alert though.
This is my current device history:

I didn't get any of those. 😞

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 00:01:22 GMT

@darlicious : I suppose the May 5th one could be dual-SIMs which begs the question...why aren't they all duplicated?

No..they're all tests.

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

ichor — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 00:05:54 GMT

I wonder if I'm not getting the emergency tests because my phone is too old for GPS and they are using that to say that someone is in BC rather than which cell service they are logged into?

Re: Text from 5129 - but can't open on my phone. Is this from Public Mobile?

darlicious — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 00:09:27 GMT

@ichor

Your old phone is using 3G is it not? 3G does not get emergency alerts. You have to tune into tv or radio to recieve alerts.