As you may or may not know both Telus and Bell currently charge users without text messaging packages for any incoming texts received. That’s right, incoming texts. Rogers, having waited many months to follow suit, will finally do so as of July 7, 2009.

If you don’t agree with this ridiculous practice you don’t have too many options. Unfortunately, it appears that the “big 3” (Telus, Bell, and Rogers) have banded together in this regard and are forcing this charge down their customers throats. You know that $7.95 “system access fee” charge? It was once mandatory for providers to pay the Canadian government. Now, they are no longer required to pay the government, yet they still collect the fee. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

More information on your options can be found in this thread: http://forums.beyond.ca/st/263324/rogers-to-charge-for-incoming-text-messages-july-7/.

Send a Message to the Cellular Providers!

Unfortunately, if you’re stuck with the big 3 for some reason (need data access for BlackBerry or don’t want to pay the $400 to get out of your contract, for example) your options are severaly limited. However, if you’re a little more free ridin’ you do have options.

Smaller providers, such as Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile, and PC Mobile, all offer pre-paid cellular services with text messaging, picture messaging, and basic data offerings. If you’re an iPhone user you’re pretty much boned (Fido is owned by Rogers), but if you aren’t you can switch over and ditch the rediculous fees.

The longer that Canadians let this extortion happen the more it will cost us in the end. After all, if they can charge us for incoming text messages (which users have absolutely no control over), what’s to stop them from charging a per-minute rate simply for accessing their network (ie- having your phone turned on)?