Why are SMS messages so expensive?

Allero@lemmy.today to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 174 points –

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?

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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?

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.