Cannot SEND SMS messages on 8130

Question

Here's my story:
1.  I upgraded to a Blackberry Pearl 8130 in pink earlier this year.      My carrier is Verizon.
2.  Recently (say a month ago), a friend sent a text message to me from her new phone.  I attempted to text her back, but received a big fat red X indicating that my message did not go through.  Specifically, when I open my message, the error says, "Mobile equipment status failed."
3.  I went to Verizon.  They did something where I think they took me off the network and then put me back on.  This did nothing.  She wanted to do a hard set on the phone, but I had not backed up my data yet. 
4.  I went home and backed up my data and went back to Verizone about a week later.  I spend over an hour in the store.  The gentleman that was helping me was on the phone with someone (presumably technical support) to no avail.  He was ready to order me a replacement phone, but after further discussion with tech support, they thought there was an issue with the network, not my phone.  I went home with a case number.
5.  The very next day Verizon called me.  They indicated that it wasn't a network issue and that it was my phone.  They were going to send me a replacement.
6.  I received my replacement phone a couple of days later.  I was anxious to get it set up, but the results have been the same.    I have not yet returned to Verizon.  I thought I'd try here first to see if anyone had any ideas.
The bottom line: 
I CAN send/receive e-mails. 
I CAN send a MMS message. 
I CAN receive SMS messages. 
I CANNOT send SMS messages.
Thank you for any advice you may have.
-Sandra
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Answer 1

Two months later and I finally ..yes FINALLY figured out the SMS issue I previously mentioned on my own out of sheer frustration. I have a Pearl 8130. First ..thanks to everyone for the previous suggestions for resolution here on this board, Google and other areas I've searched many times over however ..none of the suggetions or options worked ..ie, battery pull, *228, calling Alltel tech support many times, going to the Alltel store etc.. you name it I tried it. Guess what? And this is for anyone else who may have had the same problem.. sad to say it was a very simple change in the settings that resolved the "X SMS error 0, Message ID 99"  response on every single text (sms) I tried to send.
1.) Click the Call Log icon
2.) Select the menu button (immediate right of the track ball)
3.) Select Options - this will give you a list that begins with "General Options" ..etc
From this list..
4.) Select Smart Dialing
From here you will see an option for "Use "1" for National Dialing" 
If it on the default setting of "no" change it to "yes"
Save your selection as normal and you should be good to go.
The funny thing in all of this ..I was recently in Southern California (I live in Arizona) and while there I had absolutely no trouble whatsoever sending or receiving. Upon my return to AZ the problem resurfaced and I have to admit that after 7yrs with Alltel (soon to be Verizon) I am truly disappointed with tech support for the very first time. A simple default setting needed to be changed ~sigh~
Hope this works for anyone else who is having issues ..specifically Alltel/Verizon.