Text Messaging Charges: Bell, Telus, Fido & Rogers
Submitted by Voip-Cell-Admin on Tue, 10/14/2008 - 03:09
Seems I've been getting some visitors wondering about how much it costs to send and receive text messages between cell phones in Canada.
So, here are the details:
There is no "long-distance charge" for text messages sent or received in Canada, so even though you might have to pay long distance charges to RECEIVE a call OUTSIDE of your home area, there is no such charge on text messages. The same applies for sending text messages from OUTSIDE of your home area.
Of course, if you are on a monthly plan, there are text message plans where you can get a bucket or minutes at some price, but I'm going to go over charges for regular users that are on prepaid or on a monthly plan without a text message bundle/package.
Rogers Text Message Charges:
Rogers Wireless charges 15 cents for each incoming text message for those without message plans as of July 7. Each outgoing text will cost you 15 cents from within Canada to a Canadian cell phone. Rogers did at least hold out for 9 months after Telus and Bell implemented their charges.
Fido Text Messaging Charge:
Again, no charge for receiving a text/SMS message while in Canada (still true as of Sept 2009). Each text you send will cost you 15 cents per person you send it to (so, sending the same message to 10 people will cost you $1.50). Also, interestingly, Fido does have some "plans" that you can add to your prepaid account for things like 100 texts/day for $0.50/day (but you have to add such a thing in advance, it's not like a maximum charge).
Telus Text Messaging: Pay to Both Send AND Receive Texts
Telus charges, again, the standard 15 cents per message sent. But they ALSO charge you 15 cents per message received. This is unlike Fido. Now, if you have a monthly plan, like the "Your Choice 25", you still pay the same amount to send and receive texts. Now, their "Messaging 250" for $5/month add-on plan says "send up to 250 text, picture or video messages and receive unlimited incoming text, picture or video messages.*" Which makes me wonder, are they still going to charge you 15 cents / message to receive a text? Sounds awfully like it.
So, in total, for a text sent from one Telus phone to another Telus phone, they're making 30 cents. And let me tell you, text messages account for about 0% of the load on a cell phone network, because they're only sent/received when there's unused capacity on the network.
Bell Mobility Messaging: Again, Pay to Send AND Receive Texts
I thought Bell was just like Telus. I think their cell phone networks are actually tightly connected, with Bell users using Telus towers when going west, and Bell users using Telus when going east. They charge 15 cents per message sent. But on their Prepaid prices page, they make no mention about charging for incoming/received messages, so maybe they're not doing it? I thought they were... Ah yes, if you look on this page, it does indeed say that with no plan, you pay to both send and receive texts with Bell Mobility cell phones.Sneaky sneaky people!!!
So, what if you do get a text messaging plan? Well, if it's a monthly plan and you get one of their text messaging add-ons, received texts are free. BUT, if you have a prepaid phone, and get one of their text-messaging add-ons, both your sent AND RECEIVED messages get deducted from your bucket of texts.
General Canadian Text Messaging Charges and Such:
Receiving or sending a text from outside Canada is always going to cost you more. As well, there are texts, like premium ones and such that you will pay for, this article was merely going over plain one Canadian cell phone to another Canadian cell phone texts.
42 reponses to "Text Messaging Charges: Bell, Telus, Fido & Rogers"
1. bkw qewp
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2. USA TEXT
hey i'm in sook for christmas, but for my cell, its soo close to washington, that it picks up the cell tower from there, so it thinks im in the usa, im with telus, if i text while i thinks im in the usa, will i get charged extra? i have unlimited texting
3. hey i'm from canada, and i'm
hey i'm from canada, and i'm actually in sook for christmas, being in sook, im soo close to washington, it gets the cell tower from there, so it says im in usa but im not actually, if i text while it says im in the usa, will i get charged extra? i have unlimited texting.
4. HELP!
If i go to the beach (which is out of the city) and i bring my phone can i text my friends that are in the city? I have a $5 add-on for unlimited texting. Will Koodo Mobile still charge me if i text people who are in the city, even if its unlimited? PLEASE HELP THANKS!!
5. going to usa.
i live in canada and i am leaving to go to maine,usa next sunday.
will it cost me money if i am in maine and texting a usa number while im there?
6. So i have rogers prepaid
HEy peeps i have rogers prepaid and i bought the plan for 20 dollars for unlimited texting, unlimited mobile web, free calling from 3pm-6m and i was wondering if rogers would still make me pay for incoming text- Pleeaassee help me!!!
7. Help
So, if I live in Toronto, and my friend lives in Toledo - will I be able to text them in New York when the moon is in the sixth house of aquarius?
Sorry for the sarcasm, but seriously - get in touch with your provider. If you aren't sure what you are, and aren't being charged for - make the call. It'll give you piece of mind, and save you from a costly cell phone bill. The bottom line is, if you rack up the charges, you're responsible for them. Ignorance does not pay cell phone bills.
Jay
8. $ 5.00/250 texts add - on
I received the message again from Rogers re : $5.00 250 texts add - on and di exactly waht they said to do dial * 611 and press 321 and as usual it does not work ....none of the messages i get like this work and I find that frustrating!
9. Bell Unlimited to the US...Let me get this right.
I have an unlimited texting plan with Bell...if I text down to the US and they text back, I'll be charged?
10. i have a bell phone (lg
i have a bell phone (lg xenon) & i have unlimited texting, if i text my friend from London Ontario just to the states outside of sarnia will it charge?
11. My parents will be angry...
Hiiii I live in Canada, Toronto to be exact. My best friend just moved to Mauritus, I have been texting him guilt free not realizing until today that this months bill may be costly... He purchased a sim card there, his number in ten digits. Will I be charged extra for replying to his messages even if I have an unlimited texting plan?
Thanks,
12. Fido?
So if I'm living in Ottawa, and I have a fido unlimited texting plan, can I text my friend in Vancouver? Or will that be of additional charges?
13. Rogers, Confused.
So does that mean you also pay for RECEIVING AND SENDING text messages for rogers?
14. Geez people...
If you have a cell phone, you should know what is and isn't included.
For the record...if you live in ON and text AB and you have a text messaging bundle, it costs you nothing. If you live in ON and text AB and DO NOT have a text messaging bundle, it will likely cost you .15. If you live in ON and RECEIVE a text from AB and you have a text messaging bundle, it will cost you nothing. If you live in ON and RECEIVE a text from AB and DO NOT have a text messaging bundle, it may cost you another .15 (depending on your cell phone provider)
If you live in ON and text someone in the U.S. WITHOUT a U.S. included text messaging bundle, it could cost you upwards of .25-.30 to send. If you live in ON and RECEIVE a text from someone in the U.S. it won't cost you anything if you have a text messaging bundle.
15. hi, i'm abit confused
I'm not quite sure if i get this right, I'm with the Fido plan, and I'm from Montreal, I'm in a 2 yr contract for the 25$ plan.. but will i get charged if i text anyone in Canada? I have a friend from Vancouver and she just got a cell which i thought we could text each other as easily as that. But I'm not quite sure if i understand how this works, and whether the 15 cents rule will apply to me or not.
16. Unlimited texting for rogers
I have Rogers, and i recently found out that the unlimited texting messaging doesn't include USA. Unfortunately, that resulted in a massive bill. I was wonder when setting up your phone to receive msgs from your msn,its called sms. So if i have unlimited text messaging, would the sms charge imply?
17. receiving sms messages
receiving sms messages through msn would be free with unlimited text messaging as long as you are in Canada.
18. virgin mobile
hey,I have a virgin mobile plan with unlimited text messages within Canada&US. If I wanna text somebody from US and whos not on virginmobile, will they charged me?
reply please
19. virgin mobil
hey,I have a virgin mobile plan with unlimited text messages within Canada&US. If I wanna text somebody from US and whos not on virginmobile, will they charged me?
reply please
20. Rogers Pre paid
I have rogers pre paid phone I get 2500 texts that comes with it for 10 bucks how ever i would like to know is incoming text count? like do i loose texts if some1 texts me and if so will it make a difference if i open it or nto?
21. No it does not
No you will not be charged for incoming text messages aslong as you have the texting ad-on :)
22. Texting to China
First of all, is it possible to text to someone in China, and with a Rogers cell phone what would the costs be? I miss my friend.
23. Hi. My Husband does business
Hi. My Husband does business in China and we've been texting back and forth. It doesn't seem to cost any more. I have Rogers and 2500 texts/month.
24. Rogers roaming charges for text
If I live in Southwestern Ontario and have a phone from there, will I get roaming charges if I text friends from home while I am in PEI?
Thanks
25. Long Distance Texting
No, there is no "Long Distance" for texting while you're within Canada and sending a text (or receiving a text) to/from a Canadian cell phone number.
26. bell twitter text and long distance text
Hi i bought a LG reveal on prepaid from bell i have the 2500 texts a month for 10 dollars. I live in toronto and am wondering if i text someone who lives in kingston or somewhere where its considered long distance in canada will i be charged long distance fees? or will it just come off of my bundle? Also will it cost me money to recive tweets from twitter on my phone or will they also just take it off the bundle? Thanks
27. I have unlimited text
I have unlimited text messages. So far texts from and to twitter have cost me nothing. Cause they are text messages. Most likely what you receive and send will be deducted from your bundle though.
28. Can I send text message to any carriers?
Hi, let's say I have FIDO phone, can I send text message to a TELUS phone or BELL phone, when they reply, will I be able to receive it? thanks!
29. I had my phone disconnected
I had my phone disconnected at my own request @ 2 mo. ago [read: finished, don't need a phone, fini] Telus just sent me a bill for $.01-THAT'S 1 CENT !! Probably printed on $.36 worth of stationary-2 pages-reads: NEW CHARGES-additional charges and credits- .01- Total if received by Nov 25, 2009-$.01. Please pray, people-we are all in trouble! Bwaa haa haa haa!
30. So even if you don't open
So even if you don't open the text. Rogers will still charge you?
31. Still charged even if not opened!
That's right, you even get charged if you don't check the message. Messages are sent to your phone, and then wait to be opened. Rogers has no way of even knowing that you opened the message.
32. Hey so i read the article
Hey so i read the article and i dont under stand ? :S i live in montreal and im with fido if i text out side of canada like to new york how much will it be? Thanks for your help!
33. Fido text messages to USA
It would cost more than a regular text, probably around 25 cents or so. I'd imagine they'd charge this separately from your SMS bucket, even if you're paying for thousands of messages. They're jerks like that.
34. Fido Phone
Hey I have a fido phone and I live in barrie... I can text anywhere in Canada Question though If my friend who has a Barrie number moves to the states and keeps her number the way it is... Will it cost me money to text her or have her text me? Just curious since she's my best friend and leaving in January and I want to continue talking to her whenever she can get free time even if it is seldom....
35. Canadian Cell Phone in USA: Text messages/SMS
If you send a text to a Canadian number (regardless of where the phone is based), you'll be charged for sending a text to a Canadian. The person receiving the text will likely pay too. Best bet (for her!) would be to change her number to a US one, their plans are way better than Canadian ones, and using a Canadian phone in the USA could get very expensive very fast.
36. Fido Phone
Hey I have a fido phone and I live in barrie... I can text anywhere in Canada Question though If my friend who has a Barrie number moves to the states and keeps her number the way it is... Will it cost me money to text her or have her text me? Just curious since she's my best friend and leaving in January and I want to continue talking to her whenever she can get free time even if it is seldom....
37. please answer.
ok, i have a telus phone i got unlimited texting and stuff on my plan. i live in canada and so if i text someone who lives in the states will i get charged more? and question number 2 when i text someone to the usa will it show on the bill like where my texts are being sent? thanks and please please reply back
38. If you are with Telus and
If you are with Telus and have txt plan, to Canada/US is included.
39. Telus Texts to USA
Hey, thanks for the question. Texts to the USA do cost more than texts to Canada, I'm not sure if they'll just charge you the difference, or the entire amount even though you have a texting package.
I would imagine that they would show up no differently than how your Canadian texts show up on your bill, so if your Canadian ones show the receiver, so will these, if they don't, then they won't.
40. it charges for only calling,
it charges for only calling, no LD for text
41. long distance charges.
Hi, i am with Bell and i have 250 texts and 300 call minutes a month. I am in Calgary and i would like to text my friends in Ottawa is there a long distance charge for text? or is the long distance price only for calling.?
42. confused
what if i live in vancouver and have a telus phone and i want to text my friend in taiiwan??? is there a fee??? how much???
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