what are the advantages of imessage??

[wiivile]

i have unlimited sms but only 6gb of data, so what is the point of using imessage to send messages to ios users instead of sms? is there an advantage to turning imessage on?

[TonyTouch]

I don't have unlimited texts so I like using it to cut down on SMS.

But otherwise- I understand video clips are of a higher quality via iMessage. You can also get send/read receipts.

Also, I find the soft blue bubbles of iMessage easier to read than the neon green of SMS.

[takeshi74]

Depends on your needs/wants/situation. Details on what iMessage offers are available online for you to refer to in order to see if it would benefit you. A couple of things not mentioned so far:
- You can carry over iMessage discussions from one device to another.
- You can send/receive iMessage messages via WiFi.

That said, if you're concerned about data usage then it may not be of any benefit to you. It's your call to make. I share 4GB with my wife and use GV which sends messages via data without any concerns. Again, depends on your needs/wants/situation.

Don't overlook Google and existing threads. See also:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4353254
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1282491

[bushido]

Originally Posted by wiivile

i have unlimited sms but only 6gb of data, so what is the point of using imessage to send messages to ios users instead of sms? is there an advantage to turning imessage on?

u can send pictures, short clips and audio recordings on top of simply text

and lol at "only" 6GB of data... the average data volume u get before they slow u down to 64kb/s even tho u got unlimited data is between 200-500mb here in Germany

[elistan]

Originally Posted by wiivile

i have unlimited sms but only 6gb of data, so what is the point of using imessage to send messages to ios users instead of sms? is there an advantage to turning imessage on?

In your situation, the only advantage to iMessage over SMS that I can think of is that iMessage works for OSX and non-cellular iOS devices like WiFi iPad and iPod Touch in addition to the iPhone.

[cyks]

There are no character limits with iMessage, so you can use real words and not have to worry if it'll send as one or three texts.

Otherwise, as others have mentioned, media quality is much greater since the files can be sent full size.

[surfer17]

group chat!

[Julien]

Messages can be used from/to your iPad, iPad mini, Touch and iMac.

[pear21]

You won't even notice the data that it uses at all and you have plenty of data if you have 6gb

[jsw]

Unless you're regularly sending out long videos and lots of images, iMessage isn't even going to be a blip on your 6GB plan.

Also, you'll spare the text usage of friends (with iOS devices) as well.

[gotluck]

sms tends to be more reliable than imessage

i have unlimited texts so I leave it disabled

mms includes picture texts and group texts, so not an advantage of imessage

so i suppose short clips and audio recordings (didn't know imessage could do that) would be the only advantages for me

sms requires the least amount of signal strength to succeed, texts can go through in areas where even voice is too shoddy.

[FSMBP]

Originally Posted by gotluck

sms tends to be more reliable than imessage

i have unlimited texts so I leave it disabled

mms includes picture texts and group texts, so not an advantage of imessage

so i suppose short clips and audio recordings (didn't know imessage could do that) would be the only advantages for me

sms requires the least amount of signal strength to succeed, texts can go through in areas where even voice is too shoddy.

Quality in MMS is awful. When people send me MMS's of pictures, they look nasty. When I get pictures in iMessage, it's almost original quality.

But I digress...

OP: I had friend's who had unlimited messaging...but I didn't. So they constantly would cause me overages. Same friend got an iPhone and she constantly still iMessages me, but now I don't go over. Basically, if you're texting others on iPhones, it will benefit them if they don't have unlimited messaging.

[elistan]

Yeah, please don't send me any SMS - they cost me $0.20 a pop!

[Ntombi]

Originally Posted by cyks

There are no character limits with iMessage, so you can use real words and not have to worry if it'll send as one or three texts.

Otherwise, as others have mentioned, media quality is much greater since the files can be sent full size.

Character limits are a biggie with me. Media quality and read receipts are good too. I really miss iMessage with the friends without iPhones.

[buddybd]

It has been very good for me as well, I cancelled my text plan entirely actually. And with Verizon not offering 250 messages anymore, it made the decision that much easier.

People I text frequently have iPhones or iPads, the ones without don't text me enough for the charges to exceed my monthly text plan.

[YoungTheKing]

pingme and groupme apps are 10x better than imessage.

[mattroman246]

text and pick up conversations on all your devices, I can go from my phone to my macbook to my iPad. If only it worked as seamlessly as I'd like it to every time I used it..

[bgro]

Originally Posted by surfer17

group chat!

Hate group chat personally. Need to give the option to leave a conversation then it'd b ik

[xraydoc]

I like iMessage because of the delivered & read receipts. Also works internationally without fees. And I'm on a CDMA carrier (VZW) and iMessage removes the 160-character limit before messages are split in to multiple messages.

[scaredpoet]

The real advantage to iMessage is if you have regular access to WiFi. There, you're not using SMS and you're not using your cellular data plan. The carrier never has to touch the messages you send/receive.

And yeah, if you're texting someone internationally, there's no fee or extra package to buy. Same is true with FaceTime.

[Ste Nova]

mms £0.35
iMessage £free

[jafingi]

• Often faster than SMS/MMS
• Group conversations
• Delivered/Read status
• Works across your iPhone, iPad, iPod and Mac
• Great if you don't have unlimited SMS

[brylliant]

Originally Posted by wiivile

i have unlimited sms but only 6gb of data, so what is the point of using imessage to send messages to ios users instead of sms? is there an advantage to turning imessage on?

It varies for every person but I have an unlimited data plan for 30 days, only costs £5.00 a month, and with it I can iMessage for completely free, and as many messages as I like.
I can't go over the limit with my plan so for me it's a really nice way to keep in touch with my family and friends on iOS devices. I think it would be a different story if I had an iPhone 5 with an LTE plan.

[sovereign]

It is free for those who refuse to pay the cell and text rates any longer.

[realeric]

Originally Posted by wiivile

i have unlimited sms but only 6gb of data, so what is the point of using imessage to send messages to ios users instead of sms? is there an advantage to turning imessage on?

Is that you? I had to pay $0.2 everytime you send me a SMS message.