Why is texting not always free?

Cell phone carriers often charge for text messaging because each text message uses bandwidth. While most text messages use a very small amount of bandwidth, they do take up data space.

Instead of charging cell phone users per character within their text messages, cell phone carriers have plans that bundle together text messaging, phone calls and data plans. The cell phone user saves money and usually doesn't have to worry about messaging volume. Most modern plans allow for unlimited text messages and sometimes also have unlimited data usage. Data usage involves sending information across the phone's network via Internet-enabled applications like Web browsers.