Two of Canada's phone operators, Bell Mobility and Telus Mobility have announced that they will start charging some of its subscribers to receive text messages. The changes, to come into effect from next month only affect Prepay subscribers and both operators have set the same C$0.15 per message received.
However, if a subscriber signs up to an outbound text messaging bundle, then they wont be charged for any incoming messages. Both operators also said that customers can appeal to have delivery charges removed if they do not know the sender - such as an SMS spamer.
The operators have blamed the surge in message volumes as being responsible for introducing the charges, saying that they cannot afford to offer free inbound messaging any more. Telus spokesman Jim Johannsson said only "a small sliver" of Telus customers will face the fee.
A spokesperson for the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) said the move probably won't affect so-called "heavy texters" who will already have a package that allows them to send and receive as many messages as they please. However, he accepted that the decision could increase churn as customer switch to other operators.
According to the CWTA, Canadians sent over 10 billion text messages in 2007.
Politicians have already jumped on the consumer bandwagon, and the New Democratic Party had already secured over 5,000 signatures to a petition on its website. NDP Leader Jack Layton said that "Middle-class and working families are the ones who will be hit the hardest by these extra fees,"
Posted to the site on 9th July 2008
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