Twitter is ending SMS support in the UK, because it’s costing them too much.
This got me thinking. Most cellphones these days have internet connectivity. The data cost of an SMS is negligible. (You want to do the math? Think R 2.00 / 1,048,576 bytes * 200 chars). Yes, I know about IM, but it’s still very visibly bolted on. SMS is integrated with the phone book and interface. No install necessary.
So why isn’t SMS using TCP/IP yet? Why are we still paying up to 85c per SMS?
2 Comments
Use MXit?
It is a workaround, not a solution.
SMS works universally. No setup, registration, usernames, buggy applications, or “moola”. No need to get your friends inside the walled garden. SMS saves your messages, it integrates with your phone book, and it is simple to use.
There is something very fishy going on with SMS. The data cost is truly negligible. Why doesn’t that low cost reflect in prices?
The only logical conclusion is that the market isn’t truly free.
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