at&t instructs me not to use iMessage to save data

[macsrcool1234]

I'll call a little BS here.
MMS messages are billed under your messaging plan.
Yes it uses a data connection to send the pictures or video, but this data stream is not billed against your data plan. AT&T's APN settings differentiate the traffic.
That's what the MMSC, MMS proxy and MMS Port settings are for.

The only way they would get billed as data is if you altered or removed this setting.

I sense you're either making this conversation up or you had a CSR who didn't know his butt from a hole in the ground.

This seems to describe you - clearly you don't know how iMessages work. Re-read the OP's original complaint...

 

[rjohnstone]

This seems to describe you - clearly you don't know how iMessages work. Re-read the OP's original complaint...

Pay attention here. iMessage was not the topic of my response.
The comment regarding SMS/MMS messages being counted against his data plan was he topic.

I told him I was looking at my detailed bill, and it shows texting (including pictures and video) as contributing to my total data usage.

He then admitted that it does.

This is BS.
SMS and MMS messages are NOT counted against your data plan because they are not billed against you data plan.
They're billed under your messaging plan.
I clarified this in more detail a subsequent post how the rate codes work.
So the statement made by the CSR rep is BS.

Next time you feel like insulting someone, read first, get your facts in order and then comment.
Unless of course you enjoy making an ass of yourself.

 

[chambone]

Yep, while thinking about what color of metallic paint to get on their next mercedes, the visionless suits have overlooked internet on cellphones, and the messaging apps that inevitably come with that. And now their easy money, nearly free lunch days are over, and they wiggle an squirm because they don't like it. It happens over here too. I find it amusing to watch.

But instead of being competitive, thinking up new ways, they cling to what they know. Upping data costs and/or trying to BS you. Reminds me of a certain other industry.

 

[iceterminal]

I recorded the conversation. Is it legal for me to post it to youtube? I'd like to, because I finally got them to admit that 2GBs is the magic number. Before, they would not admit that (to me - maybe they did to others, IDK).

The legality of it goes state by state. In Texas, it is a 1 party state. Meaning that only 1 party (me) needs to know of the recording.
According to wikipedia only 12 states require both parties to know.

You also have to wonder that if you did post it to youtube, would AT&T claim it owns the copyright and have it taken down. While this would be false, they're a corporation and youtube doesn't seem to care about persons or being legal. Just not being sued.

I'd post it anyway.

 

[TonyC28]

Can someone clear up my confusion....
Would it be accurate to say that with iMessage turned off SMS or MMS messages are sent over the network but do not incur data charges. Whereas with iMessage turned on they are sent as data like using YouTube or Safari and they do incur data charges.

 

[chakraj]

Listen, stop being so selfish. IF you and everyone else would just pay their bill and not use their phone at all for anything then ATT would be able to service their new customers.

You people who have been with them for years have had your fair share of ATT cake, its time to stop being selfish and let some of the new subscribers have some bandwidth.

ATT can not be reasonably expected to be able to give service to everyone they sell service to, that is just crazy. You had your time in the sun, now just continue to pay but stop using your device, you selfish people. Sheesh

 

[rjohnstone]

Can someone clear up my confusion....
Would it be accurate to say that with iMessage turned off SMS or MMS messages are sent over the network but do not incur data charges. Whereas with iMessage turned on they are sent as data like using YouTube or Safari and they do incur data charges.

Correct.

 

[TonyC28]

Correct.

Thanks. Then the part I'd be interested in hearing is when the customer service rep told the OP that MMS messages count towards data when iMessage is off. I don't believe that to be true, so I find that intriguing. It's no secret that all companies make a considerable profit off of text messaging since it basically costs them nothing and they charge an insanely disproportionate amount for the "data" sent in a text versus typical data used on a mobile device.

 

[Cobster]

3 gb data, 3 hours talk, free texting and images

In Denmark you can get that for about 17$ a month - AT&T are playing with you guys...

For about 30$ a month you get 11 hours of talk and 11 gb data...

 

[Leonard1818]

Threads like this make me happy I was grandfathered into the unlimited plan on Verizon.

I just can't fathom paying what I pay per month for my wife and I and having to worry about any of this crap. We have 4X the number of minutes we EVER use, unlimited text, pics, vids, data, etc.

Sure I pay a lot but I also have NO complaints.

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In Denmark you can get that for about 17$ a month - AT&T are playing with you guys...

For about 30$ a month you get 11 hours of talk and 11 gb data...

It can really be broken down to supply and demand...

 

[slippery-pete]

I recorded the conversation. Is it legal for me to post it to youtube? I'd like to, because I finally got them to admit that 2GBs is the magic number. Before, they would not admit that (to me - maybe they did to others, IDK).

I'm not making this up. Regarding how it works, should I believe you or should I believe him? If you look at your detail bill (on the web page, it's under "my paper bill") under Data Detail is where all the text messages are listed.

I'm not saying MMS and SMS uses against the Data Plan, they are. And my complaint is mainly that they want me to stop using iMessage and buy their $20 text plan instead. Either way this is wrong.

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So, you'd have me appeal to the enemy instead of simply comparing notes with the rest of us. I write them, nothing happens, I tell people here what to look out for.

I'm sharing my experience here because it might help someone, etc.

Recorded the conversation? Dude, don't you have better things to do with your time?

 

[Ding.Dong]

The legality of it goes state by state. In Texas, it is a 1 party state. Meaning that only 1 party (me) needs to know of the recording.
According to wikipedia only 12 states require both parties to know.

I'd post it anyway.

I think as long as AT&T has one of those "This call may be monitored or recorded..." messages at the start of your call, you should be fine, legally, to record it no matter what state you're in.

Just to be clear, since there seems to be a lot of confusion, SMS does not use data. SMS messages were around before there was data networks and text messages can be sent even if there is not data connection. Try turning off "Cellular Data" in Settings, and text messaging still works. So, the AT&T rep was correct in that turning off iMessage will save you data, but the amount of data saved will be so small that it will have a neglible affect on your usage.

 

[takeshi74]

You also have to wonder that if you did post it to youtube, would AT&T claim it owns the copyright and have it taken down.

Copyright isn't relevant.

 

[iceterminal]

Copyright isn't relevant.

I agree totally. But this is AT&T, they'll say they own the copyright to the conversation since it was an AT&T rep. Its just how they'd play it at first.

 

[iceterminal]

I think as long as AT&T has one of those "This call may be monitored or recorded..." messages at the start of your call, you should be fine, legally, to record it no matter what state you're in.

They do this to cover the "two party" states legal requirements. They're letting the other end know it can be recorded by AT&T. This does not, however, alleviate the situation of letting AT&T know they are being recorded by you.
Again, if you're in a two party state you MUST let the other party know they are being recorded by you.

 

[lordofthereef]

So, you'd have me appeal to the enemy instead of simply comparing notes with the rest of us. I write them, nothing happens, I tell people here what to look out for.

I'm sharing my experience here because it might help someone, etc.

If someone is telling you something incorrectly, you can come here to complain, or you can point it out. You mentioned "the magic number" multiple times. We are all telling you the rep was wrong about other parts of this conversation. Now you are picking and choosing parts of it. If he was wrong about SMS/MMS consuming data, why do you think he was right about the "magic number". I am not telling you what to do. I am telling you what you could do, or what I might do in this situation. IMO this is an obviously misinformed person (as I said, this happens frequently) and not some conspiracy to screw you over.

And please, do share your experiences. THat is what the site is for. I think I mentioned that in the very post you quoted. I was simply offering you a suggestion as to how to take this further, or COULD take this further, if you chose. THat is also what forums are for.