Why are SMS messages so expensive?

its crazier than you think... the original sms messaging was sent over an already existent, in process data path.. they didnt really have to add much to the system to accommodate it, yet charged an obscene amount per message

the answer is simple; because they can

Beyond corporate greed, there is none. SMS' are even sent as part of routine packets on the cellular network so they don't even take extra data. Carriers might pay extra for inter carrier routing, but again the cost associated with that is mostly corporate greed.

You compare to the internet but you have to remember, back when SMS' were the only player in terms of cellular messaging, cellular data cost an arm and a leg.

SMS are completely free? I mean yeah, they cost money back in 2009, but that was a loooooong time ago.

Wherever you are, you're being completely screwed, yeah.

Wait, I haven't paid for text messages in probably 15 years. Where do they still charge for SMS? It's usually unlimited with any plan that I've seen

Where are you that you're paying anything extra for sms? They used to be expensive because they could charge that much, now that are included in even the cheapest prepaid plans. If you are paying per message, that's a you problem and you need to find another wireless provider.

I know it doesn't help, but Europeans have always been amazed how much you guys were charged for SMS. Even in 1999, over here messages cost a fraction of what you were charged - that you pay for them at all these days is just mind-boggling.

SMS piggybacks on existing signals to and from your phone. They are entirely free, and have been in a lot of places for a long time.

You're getting screwed. At least it's a good reason for your contacts to switch to signal or simpleX?

Unlimited SMS is on most cell phone plans nowadays, at least in Canada.

On a slightly different tack: I run a website, and I choose not to implement SMS for notifications - only email. Email is free. Adding SMS, even at $0.007 per message, could add up to big bucks.

Sending an SMS as an operation is just as expensive as checking for signal. Which every phone is constantly doing.

I didnt know SMS is expensive. I know it was but i thought it was free nowadays.

What are you paying for SMS? I pay 6 euro a month for unlimited sms and calls and 2 GB data. 50+ mobiel is my provider. Now they offer my plan with the first year for 2,5 euro. Dirt cheap.

They aren't the cost was arbitrarily chosen 30 odd years ago and hasnt changed in all that time despite there being several free alternatives. Data usage doesnt cost what they charge either. Its all a scam.

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Are they? I have plans in both the UK and France, and I think they're both unlimited sms. Not expensive plans, I think the UK one is £7 for unlimited sms, unlimited calls and 20gb of data. French one was 13€ for unlimited sms/calls, and 130gb data on 5g.

I pay $170/ month for two phones in the States. I wouldn't say that SMS is free, but I can send an unlimited amount of messages with that plan.

If you're paying for SMS then it's only because there are enough people like you. Sending email is free, or using Facebook or Instagram messaging, those are also free. If companies are charging for SMS it's because they know that people like you are locked in.

And I'm not blaming you, because it's hard when you have to change how you communicate, especially when a lot of the people around you are set in their ways.

Because they can, simple as that. Or well, could. I don't think I have sent a single text message in a solid decade now, and received only 2FA messages and pickup codes for storage boxes when something was delivered while I wasn't home.

I really thought SMS is a remnant of the past at this point, just like fax systems. Working for legacy purposes, nothing more.

They are expensive? I pay 10 euros a month and that includes 500 SMS messages and 100 MMS ones along with call time and Internet that I have never exceeded so I haven't checked how much it is.

It was expensive before because it's a supreme form of communication: don't need both parties to be online and vacant, conveys complex info in a succint form (think numbers, adresses) that's saved on both parties' phones like notes for later, have an option to pay for another party to answer you, could be printed and sent in secret when there's a meeting or a lesson (with physical buttons most could've printed a message under the table) and it kinda had it's own culture, with basic emoticons and shorthands for words - even if being far from how popular it became in Japan and in pager's times.

Right now SMS messages aren't used that much by individuals since it was killed by the internet+messengers+touchscreens trio so they charge extra to milk those who happen to need that. A lot of carriers at my place provide subscription plans with minutes and gigabytes, with SMS as additional paid package or with a ridiculous price for every message.

But they don't actually earn much here, even if they charge a whopping lot. SMS providers get fed by commercial contracts with services who notify you of delivery, send you verification codes and show you your CC balance. Signal, the messenger, started to look into phone number-less accounts because their non-profit is tired to shoulder the price they need to pay for just an SMS per login. Some services now call instead of texting you and make you write the last numbers of the phone to verify your identity, because it's cheaper for now.

I feel kinda nostalgic of times when it was popular and carriers introduced special plans for messaging enthusiasts. I hate people calling for every small thing and I'm tired of checking multiple internet channels of information. With SMS it all was simple and direct.