Sounds like you are talking about text messages! That's why I blocked mine, didn't see the point of paying for calls I didn't ask for.* Europe and most of the rest of the civilized world only pays for texts you send, just like a phone call.
Most phone plans, whether cell or landline, charge the dialing number but based on where the receiving number is. That is, you pay more for calling half way around the world than across the street. Most people have a plan that allows a certain number of calling minutes a month. But I've never heard of one that counted received calls against that amount or that charges for receiving a call from anywhere. Of course, the above is extremely simplified. And there is still the "Collect" call that many students use to "Phone Home!" I think there are around 3,729 plans available. And that's just for black phones!
Cell phones are really misnamed. They really are just very low-powered radio transmitters and receivers connected to the regular landline phone system.
* When I called AT&T to cancel my texting service, the operator was at first incredulous, I guess not many cancel that service.
Her last ploy was to tell me, "We have a special deal where you can make 200
free text messages for only $5/month!" I asked her if that was because she would be getting charges on
her credit card for my "free" messages. I'm not sure she ever realized what either of us had said.
BTW, I can still get text messages, but they all come from the phone company. Since they don't charge themselves, they don't charge me, either... but they are still useless!
I still laugh at the thought of using a device that can communicate at very near the speed of light but is limited by ones typing speed! It is further limited by the fact that it is no longer a two-way conversation and totally lacking in the aural clues delivered by human speech. This is called "progress?!"
