Is there any reason, beyond corporate greed, for SMS messages to cost so much?

If I get it right, an SMS message is just a short string of data, no different from a message we send in a messenger. If so, then what makes them so expensive? If we’d take Internet plans and consider how much data an SMS takes, we should pay tiny fraction of a cent for each message; why doesn’t that happen?

  • lionkoy5555@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    6 months ago

    When you say free, as in totally free that you can send and receive anytime even without a plan? Or you mean free because it is already included in your prepaid or postpaid plan?

    • SolOrion@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      6 months ago

      Free as in: unlimited calls and texts are included in pretty much all but the most bargain bin plans nowadays.

      I was looking for a new cell provider a couple months ago, and I honestly don’t recall even seeing a plan that didn’t come with unlimited talk and text.