KIRO 7 Consumer Investigator Amy Clancy first learned that T-Mobile was the only major cell phone company that did not allow customers to block all incoming messages. Today, the company told Clancy that at that time it couldn't, but that now, it can.

Over 20 billion text messages are sent worldwide each month. Last year alone, one billion of them were spam.

Joe Calloway of Seattle was angered by unwanted spam on his T-Mobile phone, because, like all T-Mobile customers, he was billed 15 cents per incoming text message. So he filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. District court after he shared his story with KIRO 7.

"It doesn't matter if you open them or not. You're going to get charged for them regardless. Anybody that text messages you, whether it's someone you know, or someone you don't, whether it's an advertisement or not, they're going to charge you for it," said Calloway.

At the time Calloway filed his suit, T-Mobile was the only major cell phone company that did not allow customers to block all incoming text messages, if they wanted.

Now, that is possible, according to the Bellevue-based company's Vice President of Communications, David Beigie, who sat down with KIRO 7.

"Why the change?" asked Clancy.

"Wireless is a very competitive industry, so if we're not staying on top of the latest technology to help our customers, shame on us. We've been working on it for years and it's finally ready to go," Beigie.

"You say you've been working on it for years, but obviously I'll be skeptical because that's my job; there's a lawsuit that's been filed, a couple lawsuits, and our story that came out in May, that actually got worldwide attention from some people through the Internet, is that just a coincidence?" asked Clancy.

"Our business is so complicated and so competitive, as soon as we're able to bring capability to customers, we want to do that," said Beigie.

And T-Mobile did.

As soon as the technology became available, within the past month, it began blocking all incoming text messages for customers who want that option.

Meanwhile, Calloway's lawsuit goes forward. He's seeking reimbursement for those unwanted text charges.