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got my first iphone 3g bill...arghhh...
- Thread starter JackSpearo
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WHOA!!! So, are you saying that there are two different AIM Apps; one that charges for every message and a different App where the msgs are free??? (yes I understand your original point; there are non-iPhones that use AIM in place of SMS). But since we are all talking about the iPhone here, let's keep this specific to the iPhone. Is there only one AIM App for the iPhone? And, if so, then are the msgs non-SMS, and therefore free?
Thank you for the clarification, so then... $5.00/0.20 = 25msgs. Anyone who uses more than 25msgs per month will benefit from a text msg plan.
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Meebo
I have been using MEEBO for IM for a few months and have never seen it adding to my SMS count. MEEBO actually works great since you can connect it to to your regular IM client. I log in as my MSN account.
I have been using MEEBO for IM for a few months and have never seen it adding to my SMS count. MEEBO actually works great since you can connect it to to your regular IM client. I log in as my MSN account.
There are 4 different ways to send AIM messages on the iPhone that I'm aware of:
1: You can use the built in SMS app to send AIM messages, this WILL charge you for SMS usage.
2: 3rd party AIM app from the app store, this uses the EDGE/3G/WiFi networks to send messages, no SMS charges will appear from using this.
3: Another 3rd party IM program called "Palringo", which is a multi IM client supporting AIM, MSN, Yahoo, Gadu-Gadu (what ever that is), IQC, Jabber, Google Talk, and iChat. Works the same as #2, no SMS charges.
4: You can use Meebo.com to send IM's though the Safari browser. This is a website based service using the same data networks as #2 & #3, so no SMS charges.
To sum it up, only way your going to get hit with any SMS charges for IM'ing on AIM is if you use the SMS app that comes built into the iPhone.
I call 100% BS. AIM app uses data, not SMS.
The call center person was referring to basic AIM apps that flip/regular phones use (which do use text/sms to send messages), but this is not the case with the iPhone. Don't believe me?
Call someone who has a clue what they're talking about. I probably send 500+ IM's a month and I have the 200 text plan.
The call center person was referring to basic AIM apps that flip/regular phones use (which do use text/sms to send messages), but this is not the case with the iPhone. Don't believe me?
Call someone who has a clue what they're talking about. I probably send 500+ IM's a month and I have the 200 text plan.
I can't believe there are actually IM apps on other phones that do charge them for texts. Especially at the rate you get charged for texts over the pond. 
I feel for you guys. In the UK, we get 500 texts (that's 500 outgoing texts, no charge for incoming!) included on all plans and the phone is heavily subsidised (e.g. free). We even only have an 18 month contract.
Guess you guys aren't as big texters as us Europeans!
I feel for you guys. In the UK, we get 500 texts (that's 500 outgoing texts, no charge for incoming!) included on all plans and the phone is heavily subsidised (e.g. free). We even only have an 18 month contract.
Guess you guys aren't as big texters as us Europeans!
yeah, I kept the 200 Msg/ $5 msging plan, because I have a LOT of friends who LOVE to TXT like crazy.
So I tell them to send the first message to my normal number. Then when I get it, I pop open the AIM client and reply to them through there. If they want to carry on a conversation that way, they can to the AIM ID and I don't get charged. Makes things a lot easier.
Once the Notification service gets turned on and the AIM client supports it, I'll just switch over completely. The biggest problem with the AIM client as a SMS client is that you ahve to have it up and running to get the msgs... So it's not ideal right now, but certainly useable.
So I tell them to send the first message to my normal number. Then when I get it, I pop open the AIM client and reply to them through there. If they want to carry on a conversation that way, they can to the AIM ID and I don't get charged. Makes things a lot easier.
Once the Notification service gets turned on and the AIM client supports it, I'll just switch over completely. The biggest problem with the AIM client as a SMS client is that you ahve to have it up and running to get the msgs... So it's not ideal right now, but certainly useable.
You best believe it! I used to have verizon(US carrier) and on ANY dumbphone you were charged text and data usage for using their craptacular AIM application which half the time was slowing than a text as far as time it took for a person to receive. It sucks but that was why now I am SO happy to be with AT&T.I send THOUSANDS of text a month so I guess I'm like a European haha!I can't believe there are actually IM apps on other phones that do charge them for texts. Especially at the rate you get charged for texts over the pond.
I feel for you guys. In the UK, we get 500 texts (that's 500 outgoing texts, no charge for incoming!) included on all plans and the phone is heavily subsidised (e.g. free). We even only have an 18 month contract.
Guess you guys aren't as big texters as us Europeans!
very simple way to test if unsure.
Find a wi-fi signal that you can connect to on the iphone 3g
Then turn the phone on airplane mode
Now go into the wi-fi setting and reconnect to that wi-fi signal
You will now be disconnected from ATT but still online through the wi-fi. Launch the AIM app (downloaded from the itunes app store) and see if it works.
Find a wi-fi signal that you can connect to on the iphone 3g
Then turn the phone on airplane mode
Now go into the wi-fi setting and reconnect to that wi-fi signal
You will now be disconnected from ATT but still online through the wi-fi. Launch the AIM app (downloaded from the itunes app store) and see if it works.
Meebo is Charged as a SMS
I just received my AT&T bill and can confirm with certainty that using www.meebo.com is treated as incoming/outgoing text messages. I am signed up for 200 text messages a month and was charged for an additional 255 over the 200 I get free every month.
I called AT&T customer support and they were nice enough to remove these charges (over 25 dollars). The operator confirmed that AT&T DOES treat meboo use as regular old text messages. I for one am furious that these messages are bucketed in the texting plan and not the unlimited data plan.
For the posters who have screamed troll: get a life You have been warned.
Bambu
I just received my AT&T bill and can confirm with certainty that using www.meebo.com is treated as incoming/outgoing text messages. I am signed up for 200 text messages a month and was charged for an additional 255 over the 200 I get free every month.
I called AT&T customer support and they were nice enough to remove these charges (over 25 dollars). The operator confirmed that AT&T DOES treat meboo use as regular old text messages. I for one am furious that these messages are bucketed in the texting plan and not the unlimited data plan.
For the posters who have screamed troll: get a life
You have been warned.Bambu
I don't spring for unlimited texting; it just so happens my phone's IM client uses data.
I just received my AT&T bill and can confirm with certainty that using www.meebo.com is treated as incoming/outgoing text messages. I am signed up for 200 text messages a month and was charged for an additional 255 over the 200 I get free every month.
I called AT&T customer support and they were nice enough to remove these charges (over 25 dollars). The operator confirmed that AT&T DOES treat meboo use as regular old text messages. I for one am furious that these messages are bucketed in the texting plan and not the unlimited data plan.
For the posters who have screamed troll: get a life
Bambu
For your first ever post, you're claiming that a web-app is using texts for IMs instead of data?
Oh, boy.
My first bill is showing $165, and that's with a 15% FAN discount. Anyone know why it's so high? I know there is the activation fee and the first month in that bill, but where's the rest coming from? Are they charging me for 2 months?
My guess is that my bill would've been around $200 without the discount.
OH and I have 450mins/200 texts
My guess is that my bill would've been around $200 without the discount.
OH and I have 450mins/200 texts
are you SURE that the person didn't text your phone from AIM and then you replied within the SMS application? It is impossible for them to get the messages out of the AIM app or the Meebo web app. Both of these are data. My online account says i've sent/received 1,000 text messages, and if AIM used text messages that would be FAAR above 1,000.
They pro-rate so yes, there's a chance you got charged for 2 months. Let's say the billing cycle ended July 31st and you got your iPhone July 11th. That means you'll get charged for usage from July 11th to July 31st, then from July 31st to August 31st. With AT&T, you pay AHEAD. Check your bill online and it should explain everything in great detail. If you still don't get it, call up AT&T and ask.
I just received my AT&T bill and can confirm with certainty that using www.meebo.com is treated as incoming/outgoing text messages. I am signed up for 200 text messages a month and was charged for an additional 255 over the 200 I get free every month.
I called AT&T customer support and they were nice enough to remove these charges (over 25 dollars). The operator confirmed that AT&T DOES treat meboo use as regular old text messages. I for one am furious that these messages are bucketed in the texting plan and not the unlimited data plan.
For the posters who have screamed troll: get a life
Bambu
So based on what the AT&T rep told you, sending IM's though Meebo when connected though WiFi would still be charged as SMS messages? Based on what I've read in this thread and others these AT&t reps are not very knowledgeable about the iPhone. Also how would AT&T be able detect IM's sent over the DATA network (be it EDGE, 3G, WiFi) though a website and charge you a SMS fee for this? That just doesn't make any sense.
EDIT:
Final proof that Meebo will NOT incur SMS charges, direct from their website: http://wiki.meebo.com/doku.php?id=meebo_mobile
I was charged for text messages sent using Meebo on my bill. It shows up as MSN IM. If you can not take what I am saying at face value then I don't know what to say. Further more, the number of posts I have made is not relevant to this discussion. The only reason I registered here was to vent my frustration with AT&T's business practices. I find it amusing that people can not seem to believe it. Hopefully, this they billed me in error. Time will tell.
-Bambu