got my first iphone 3g bill...arghhh...

[TuffLuffJimmy]

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=281704574&mt=8

It uses the data connection. OP, did you get an unlimited data plan?

 

[GoCubsGo]

I smell a troll.

WTF how?

I just checked my bill and according to my bill I haven't been charged for any messages sent via AIM. I've sent at least 30 in total so it'd be easy to spot I'd think.

 

[JackSpearo]

guys I didn't post to scare people I just posted bc y'all are much more knowledgeable than me! I guess the AT&T guy was wrong with what he told me this morning. But I'm super happy he is wrong!at least I hope.I'm on vacation so I'll call them back later. Thanks for the quick responses and clarification!

Jack

 

[Opie]

here is what you do.... call att and be really nice to whomever you speak and after a long talk (usually and hour) you can talk them into crediting your bill or helping you out. But if you call and treat them like crap then you are gonna get the shaft. its amazing what a little persistence and nice words can do. those customer service reps can do wonders on their little comps if THEY REALLY WANT TO....

 

[spinstorm]

I think that is terrible that incoming text messages count against your total and the same with incoming calls!

Here in the UK and rest of Europe we only get charged for outgoing calls and messages originating from us! Otherwise the person who called or texted pays for it!

 

[Night Spring]

I think that is terrible that incoming text messages count against your total and the same with incoming calls!

Here in the UK and rest of Europe we only get charged for outgoing calls and messages originating from us! Otherwise the person who called or texted pays for it!

Being charged for both outgoing and incoming calls/txt never made sense for me -- do all US cell phone companies do this? If so, aren't the cell phone companies basically charging twice for all the traffic, once to the sender and once to the receiver?

 

[megapopular]

Hmm..

Are you aware that you are also charged a month in advance on your first bill?

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Long story short, OP, you weren't charged for you instant messaging. You were charged an activation fee and a month in advance.

 

[Sincereh2001]

Are you aware that you are also charged a month in advance on your first bill?

Yeah, my first bill was $267 for family plan with 2 activation fees. I called and complained (not really knowing what it was for). They took off one of the fees at least

 

[bbplayer5]

This is the dumbest post in a long time... You are implying that AOL is giving AT&T all of your instant message totals lol...

You werent charged for IMs.

 

[Inukami]

From what i heard thats how ATT does it's billing, they charge at the start of the month not at the end. I guess if you go over your minutes, SMS, or data they put it on the next bill, IDK.

 

[ipodtouchy333]

I haven't even received my first bill yet. I made an AT&T account so I could maybe see how much it will be, but it says $0 and that my next bill cycle is 9/2/08. Not that I really want my bill, but does this mean everyone is getting their bill in about a month and I'm getting mine after 2 months? I'm confused??

 

[JackSpearo]

Dumbest post in a long time? I'm just relaying what the att guy told me

 

[Auzburner]

So anyone know if using www.meebo.com on the iPhone 3G counts as SMS?

I used to use Meebo.com before the AIM native application and I most certainly did not get charged one cent. I've been using the AIM app and I better not be getting charged or I will be extremely pissed off!

 

[Inukami]

I haven't even received my first bill yet. I made an AT&T account so I could maybe see how much it will be, but it says $0 and that my next bill cycle is 9/2/08. Not that I really want my bill, but does this mean everyone is getting their bill in about a month and I'm getting mine after 2 months? I'm confused??

You should of gotten your bill, i would contact ATT if i were you.

 

[JackSpearo]

Alright I just called at&t and they DO charge you for sending instant messages through aol aim! And if anyone doesn't believe me call them yourself!!!!!

Jack

 

[Inukami]

Lol watch them start charging for websites that lets you log into your IM account like meebo.

Knowing ATT >.>

 

[JWages]

I can see them charging you if you use the SMS AIM, because it sends as texts. Using the App has nothing to do with AT&T.

 

[pcorrado]

Alright I just called at&t and they DO charge you for sending instant messages through aol aim! And if anyone doesn't believe me call them yourself!!!!!

Jack

I know this is the case with the traditional aol aim app on at&t phones, but this is from what I am aware of the case with the iPhone aol aim...the at&t are just reading from the script about aim they have available...it is different for the iPhone

 

[dancavallaro]

You need to think about this logically. It is NOT AT ALL POSSIBLE for the 3rd-party apps to use certain features of the phone, SMS included. When you send an IM from the AIM app, it's just packets going over the data connection. There's no way for a 3rd party app to send an SMS.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Alright I just called at&t and they DO charge you for sending instant messages through aol aim! And if anyone doesn't believe me call them yourself!!!!!

Jack

Sorry but this is wrong and I have a bill to prove it.

 

[rKunda]

I have no clue why people just dont spring for the unlimited text/data plans.

Some of us aren't texters.

I am giving the 200 messages a shot, but it's likely that I'd use less than $5 worth of SMSs per month on average, if I was pay-per-go.

 

[ottergal]

I haven't even received my first bill yet. I made an AT&T account so I could maybe see how much it will be, but it says $0 and that my next bill cycle is 9/2/08. Not that I really want my bill, but does this mean everyone is getting their bill in about a month and I'm getting mine after 2 months? I'm confused??

Today is Aug 2, so your first bill just cut today. Since you are technically in your next months bill cycle, you're next bill is 9/2. The bills probably aren't done processing yet so you don't see your 8/2 information up on the website.

Don't freak out. It's just timing.

 

[Rybold]

I don't see how they can charge u text messaging fees. The iPod touch has access to aim app but they aren't tied to a cell phone. I don't think apple would let AT&T do that

EXACTLY! The iPod Touch uses AIM and obviously they don't charge for text messages. This proves that AIM is an internet/data App and NOT an SMS App.

Alright I just called at&t and they DO charge you for sending instant messages through aol aim! And if anyone doesn't believe me call them yourself!!!!!

The $10/hour telemarket/call-center employee could be wrong. I've had many customer service reps be wrong in the past with all different sorts of companies. Your bill that arrives in the mail is your ultimate source of info on this.

I am giving the 200 messages a shot, but it's likely that I'd use less than $5 worth of SMSs per month on average, if I was pay-per-go.

Take note that without the text plan, messages are 15 cents/msg, so only 33 messages gets you to $5.00. But with the plan, additional msgs are only 10 cents.

 

[dave006]

Alright I just called at&t and they DO charge you for sending instant messages through aol aim! And if anyone doesn't believe me call them yourself!!!!!

Jack

The CSR is correct to a point. Many AT&T phones have an SMS AIM client and so any messages sent using that application or even the iPhone SMS function are TXT messages.

NOTE: If you are using the free Apple App Store AIM Client application, it does not use SMS and you will not be charged for incoming / outgoing IMs using this application. You need to understand that the CSRs are not experts on the iPhone 3G and non-AT&T provided applications.