GSM SMS protocol is the same on both continents. The reason SMS became free in the US with 4G, was an attempt to level competition for cell phones that weren’t iPhone, since the iMessage protocol uses data transmission rather than SMS. Now Android uses RCS, which is also data transmission, and the only use for SMS is Android to iPhone texting and dumb phones.
Comment on Why are SMS messages so expensive?
xmunk@sh.itjust.works 2 months agoThere is a large contrast in this regard between NA and Europe. In Europe data is dirt cheap and wifi is usually available anyways so messaging over whatsapp/signal/whatever is much more common than trying to use SMS. In America public wifi is extremely rare and businesses are so spread out that coverage is limited… people also tend to use iPhones which default you into their shitty iMessage - SMS was also traditionally much cheaper so it’s more of a habit in NA.
disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 2 months ago
rdyoung@lemmy.world 2 months ago
None of that is actually true as a contrast.
There are tons of free wifi networks from hotels to restaurants, etc.
None of what you are saying makes any sense.
xmunk@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
In Barcelona, I can go for a ten mile walk and constantly be in range of 3+ open wifi networks. In America it’s not uncommon to be out of range of wifi when standing on the curb closest to a restaurant or hotel… additionally American wifi networks are much less likely to be open and municipal services are less well funded.
Ecksell@lemmy.one 2 months ago
All of that is true, and makes perfect sense. It all depends on where you live, of course.
Maeve@kbin.social 2 months ago
Not everyone lives in densely packed urban areas.
rdyoung@lemmy.world 2 months ago
That’s hilarious. I currently live where I can see like 3 of my neighbors.
Maeve@kbin.social 2 months ago
And? I can see several neighbors' residences. We barely get cell signal half the time, and the only Internet currently is dodgy WiFi, which also regularly goes wonky. A lot of times we can walk into nearby establishments and leave empty -handed, because Internet is down and we don't have cash enough in have to make our purchases.
SolOrion@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
There’s literally like four places with free wifi in my entire town. Most of the restaurants don’t have it, and we only have two hotels… neither of which has properly free wifi- you have to get a room to use it.
rdyoung@lemmy.world 2 months ago
If you want to get technical, my town (really a village) has zero free wifi networks. It’s the larger city to my south that has all of the restaurants, hotels, retail, etc with free wifi.