People were quick to jump on me when I said in a post last week that Google’s brilliant Google Talk on the iPhone was the first sign of the downfall of the text message. Many took that to mean that I thought that specific app on that specific phone was a death blow to the txt. I’m not an idiot; I know that this one thing will not kill the text – but it’s not nearly as powerful as some people think.

Look at this survey published in the New York Times today. 82% of Americans have never used text messaging. Again, 82 percent.

That may skew a bit high, but it’s still way up there. Why? A lot don’t understand the concept, but even more don’t want to pay extra to send tiny amounts of data. Text messaging is a rip-off of monumental proportions.

I predict that within the next two years unlimited text messaging will be included with most cellular plans. Otherwise the medium will eventually die, overtaken by other forms of free messaging done over the Internet on your phone.