Having been stung with a $27 surcharge for excess text messages recently, the price versus cost of text messaging stings even more. The amount of data is so small compared to transmitting voice, yet is charged much much higher. In fact, because text messages are transmitted on the carrier locator signal that confirms where your cell phone is located periodically, it is essentially free (no marginal cost) for the carrier.
"But text messages are not just tiny; they are also free riders, tucked into what’s called a control channel, space reserved for operation of the wireless network.
"That’s why a message is so limited in length: it must not exceed the length of the message used for internal communication between tower and handset to set up a call." http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/business/28digi.html
According to Consumer Reports (and anyone with an engineering background can back this up), 500 text messages use less bandwidth than a one-minute cell phone conversation. [Jan. 2009 issue, page 5] http://amateureconblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/cretin-or-crook-sen-herb-kohl-of.html
Just as ironic, the cost of a text message is greater than the cost of a message sent from the Hubble telescope...
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