Is it luck?

Lets face it: Ireland is a texting nation. Since the mobile phone took off here in the early noughties, we've become obsessed with it. According to Comreg, we sent about 12 billion texts annually, which is about 1800 texts per person per year. We must hand it to the networks, they do play along, and they acknowledge the market. If we compare the cost of owning a phone here to America, I think you'd agree we're extremely lucky!

1: Irish networks don't charge for receiving texts: You more or less pay twice for sending a texting in America. That is if you're expecting a reply. For example T-Mobile charge $.10 to send and receive a text.

2: No free bundles: This is the killer I think. Irish networks normally give something free if you top-up by a certain amount. The most famous example of this is Meteor's "Free Texts to ANY Network" which has been copied by nearly all networks at one stage or another. It's an amazing success, and if it was to be stopped completely by networks, the vast majority of teens wouldn't be very happy...

I thing people would agree that the teenage data market is still untapped. it's still very uncommon for these to be on their mobile updating their status, or uploading pictures because of A. The lack of compatible 3G phones (most of my friends still have candybar Nokias, that just text and call) or B. €20 up to now only gets Free Any Network Texts, a must have for any Celtic cub. Prepay network is massive in Ireland among the young, and so are the data charges

3 are trying to change this. For example Jedward are now advertising their new tarrif, which includes "All You Can Eat" data, along with free texts, free any network weekend calls and free 3 to 3 calls, for €20. Jedward are very popular amoung teenagers here, and it was a very smart ploy by 3 to use them.

You may be reading this and wondering what the hell have I just written. But look above: €20 for all the texts, internet, and calls you may want. How much would this be in America off contract.... I rest my case.