zlacker

Why is it that SMS is so damn expensive? (or more specifically, what is it about Twilio et al's businesses that makes them cost so much?)

>>tofuah+(OP)
Nothing just profit and existing system access costs set by the incumbents.

>>tofuah+(OP)
In the US, shafting customers as hard and fast as you can is the current business model. What are they going to do? Move to 1 or 2 remaining competitors with the exact same business model?

>>tofuah+(OP)
When you control access to the customer you can charge people a lot. Just like Apple can take 30% primarily because they’re the gatekeeper to iPhone users, telecoms are gatekeepers to their users so they can charge you a lot to text them. You don’t really have a choice. L

>>sonica+32
Most of that cost is literally coming from sms outside the us though. The rates for us sms are much lower than almost anywhere else.

>>mardif+Hy1
I'll have to do some research here. Prices in the US for bandwidth, phone services, etc. are insane.