Canada fighting text message charges

LEVIS, Quebec, July 31 (UPI) -- The Canadian industry minister Thursday urged telecom giants Bell and Telus to drop plans to charge customers for incoming text messages on their cell phones.

Jim Prentice moved swiftly to condemn the move, suggesting a new round of regulations if the companies go through with the charges and making it clear the government is against it. He summoned the chief executives of both companies to Ottawa to discuss the matter.

Bell and Telus invoked the wrath of consumers when they announced that they will start charging some customers for incoming text messages in August, Canwest News Service reported.

Prentice said he held a "healthy exchange" meeting with with Bell Canada CEO George Cope, but has yet to have talks with Telus CEO Darren Entwistle.

"The cellular industry currently is an industry where we don't have heavy regulation," Prentice said. "That's something that we've tried to maintain in Canada." But he added, "Consumers do need to be protected."