You're correct, one of the major reasons why mobile phone penetration is so low here is because of unlimited landline free local calling zones. People here expect to make local calls for free at all times – and do – affordably , both incoming and outgoing. Plus, the landline infrastructure is great here and readily available. This has not always been the case in a lot of European countries.

Network operator policy and technology such as network/carrier incompatibilities, CDMA, and the lack of openly unlocked GSM handsets, to name a few, also have contributed.

Most US carriers are charging for incoming text now. Why would our greedy Canadian counterparts choose to leave that revenue on the table when the Americans have set the precedent? This is a move to improve ARPU by incenting you to sign up to a $5+ monthly text package. The actual costs to deliver text messaging are decreasing every due to depreciation of the infrastructure used to deliver it. Factor in volume discounting in intra-carrier SMS deals too.

Rogers is next. Count on it.

What's on the horizon? $0.20 per message.

Everybody takes it for granted since you can't control who calls you. It might be one dear friends, but also a telemarketer or someone who misdialled.

this was the most natural of things until I landed in Canada and actually learned that you have to pay if someone calls you.

I strongly believe this practice is one of the main reasons why mobile phone penetration is much higher in North America, especially Canada, compared to Europe. Over there, everyone has a mobile phone, with many of my friends having a couple or three.