[sumanep]

sms are free, at least rcs

[jeroenhd]

RCS is not SMS. RCS does have a fallback to SMS in some rare inter-carrier cases, but it won't fall back if you're stuck on 2G or anything.

SMS also isn't free. Many contracts contain "free" texting, but that's just SMS being packaged into the subscription price.

Carriers charge each other for (excess) SMS exchanges, so SMS simply cannot be entirely free.