Would like to see a cite for this number.
Upon review, I apologize. The global annual is around 8-10 trillion (pure SMS) for 2012 (depending whose numbers/usage/forecasts you use). Americans account for around 30-40% of that, so just a few thousand billion texts. 
The cite I was looking at was including other forms of mobile messaging, another was forecasting based on year-over-year anticipated growth, but because of the trend to use data-based mobile messaging (over-the-top messaging), SMS texting usage fell for the first time in 5 years in Q312 (my cite was older and using more optimistic forecasting).
Oh, and BigT- the difference between FREE (0.00) and .0001 (1/100th of a penny) based on 3 trillion texts is $30,000,000, dipshit.
I would actually put transmission cost closer to $.0033 (1/3rd of a cent), so now the difference is $9,900,000,000 annually. That’s transmission cost- without tax, regulatory, supporting personnel, CALEA-compliance, 10-other-costs-you-have-no-clue-of etc. etc. even after you ignore “sunk” infrastructure cost. Go ahead and multiply up some measly portions of a penny for each and add that to the negligible figure we’re already at…
Still getting ripped off at 10 cents per text? Yes. Is it free to the phone companies? Fuck no. Now fuck on off down the road and explain to the 7-11 clerk why your coffee should be free because the beans are free (grown), the styrofoam cup is only fractions of a penny to produce on average (therefore free), and it all magically combines locally into steaming hot java that you have a right to demand gratis.
.08/7.35=1%
Let’s say 20 cents per text each way in US.
.40/70=½%
As a percentage of your basic charge I think you are coming out ahead. Mostly your problem isn’t the per unit cost of texts, but that your plan is inadequate for your usage and subjecting you to overage charges. Now if your real argument is that mobile plan rates are excessively high, I would agree, and point the finger squarely at the government for standardizing and regulating the distribution systems ala the electric grid. We are paying for a lot of redundancy in the system.
These international comparisons are just crap most of the time. I love to squawk to anyone that will listen that it seems so unfair that the cost of diesel relative to the cost of gasoline is so much higher in the USA than in Germany. 
Only if I get to stab people who walk 2 abreast slowly down the sidewalk. Go fast or go single file, bitches.
Yup. It has a keyboard, it texts, it can do internet access very very badly, and it has a couple of horrible games and a horrible camera. BUT I do have access to all of those things if I need it, and I don’t pay anything per month.
I will agree with this. In searching around, I saw several cites (of varying quality) agreeing that it is about what market will tolerate. One went on to explain that people will tolerate price in direct relation to the (personal) price of the next closest option.
Americans will wait for the underlying infrastructure to migrate to MMS/CMS/etc etc on its own in exchange for keeping it seamless to them, rather than spend time/energy/thought in installing OTT (data) mobile messaging applications that look/feel different or require extra knowledge/effort.
Other countries, newer to the game, adapt more readily or start ahead of our curve and will install and learn extra apps, put up with embedded ads, buy newer or more specialized devices, etc to keep the price down. They’ll also develop tiny hybrid or electric cars, ride bicycles, carpool, use HOV lanes, and mass transit rather than pay inflated gasoline prices, because the off-set in price to these alternatives is worth it to them.
By the way, I’ve been online since the days of acoustic-coupler modems but have only had a cellphone for three years because my job made me. I got a $20 flip-phone, no plan, $1/day (when you use it) for unlimited Vz-to-Vz, everything else (including checking my own v/m from my own phone for some reason) is 10 cents/minute.
I still pay $30/month or less because I do all my texting online (work pays for internet) and check my v/m from VoIP phone at work/home. Now, if I’m in my car or outdoors away from wi-fi, you’ll have to call me, but it works fine for me. I would never rely on text in an emergency anyway if I had a choice (of calling or being called). Just my two cents.
Tangent aside, I am appalled by phone addicts. I hate going out to eat with a group or going to a get-together at someone’s house, and everyone stares at their phone the whole time. I have almost no tolerance for it, and tend to excuse myself for a cigarette, which I then smoke on my way home 