the problem with this argument is that there is not an unlimited capacity for telcos to transmit these messages. if 1,000,000 people decided they needed to send

the problem with this argument is that there is not an unlimited capacity for telcos to transmit these messages. if 1,000,000 people decided they needed to send a message to mars in the next 6 hours, you can bet your ass those messages would be $25.00 each, or more. it's also not fair to simply compare the amount of data. when you send a message you're borrowing a channel / band. the transmission tech and spectrum has a certain capacity, that's why it gets auctioned and licensed for big bucks. i would also not be surprised if telcos spent 400 million maintaining, updating and building out the infrastructure. btw, someone correct me if i'm wrong here. i'm not defending the fact that text messages are extortion in every sense of the word and the reality that they're more expensive than a real-time voice call is the part that's really hard to grasp.