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iMessage will allow me to reduce my Text Message Plan?

S

SIUGRAD99

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 20, 2008
243
22
I am trying to understand the value of iMessage and was curious if my interpretation of how it works is correct. The majority of people I text have an iphone and by them all being on ios5 I will be able to message them via wifi or 3g unlimited for free, but does this count against my text message plan if I were not to have unlimited?

Just looking for ways to reduce my monthly bill. Going to visit AT&T about lowering my text plan & minute plan as I have 7,000 roll over minutes I couldn't use if I wanted to since everyone I call is on an AT&T plan
 
SIUGRAD99 said:
I am trying to understand the value of iMessage and was curious if my interpretation of how it works is correct. The majority of people I text have an iphone and by them all being on ios5 I will be able to message them via wifi or 3g unlimited for free, but does this count against my text message plan if I were not to have unlimited?

Just looking for ways to reduce my monthly bill. Going to visit AT&T about lowering my text plan & minute plan as I have 7,000 roll over minutes I couldn't use if I wanted to since everyone I call is on an AT&T plan
Click to expand...

iMessage will allow you to send free messages to other iOS users...anybody you text on an Android or any other operating system will still go out as a regular SMS...oh and AT&T gives you one choice now; unlimited SMS or .20 cents per text
 
I am thinking of getting rid of my texting plan and use iMessage and Google Voice for texting when I get my 4S. Is it possible to ask AT&T to block all SMS messages? Or will I need to pay .20 cents for each one?
 
tinydragon123 said:
I am thinking of getting rid of my texting plan and use iMessage and Google Voice for texting when I get my 4S. Is it possible to ask AT&T to block all SMS messages? Or will I need to pay .20 cents for each one?
Click to expand...

Unless everyone you know uses an iphone on 5.0+ iOS then you'd be stuck with having a texting plan or paying 20cents per text without a plan.
Or if you block it the wont receive any texts from anyone besides imesssages.
 
tinydragon123 said:
I am thinking of getting rid of my texting plan and use iMessage and Google Voice for texting when I get my 4S. Is it possible to ask AT&T to block all SMS messages? Or will I need to pay .20 cents for each one?
Click to expand...

I believe it is possible (or at least it was a few years ago) - call 611 and ask them to block text messages.
 
Applejuiced said:
Unless everyone you know uses an iphone on 5.0+ iOS then you'd be stuck with having a texting plan or paying 20cents per text without a plan.
Or if you block it the wont receive any texts from anyone besides imesssages.
Click to expand...

yes but isnt that why the other poster mentioned google voice?:p
 
dukebound85 said:
att only offers unlimited text plans now...... implemented shortly after apple mentioned imessages
Click to expand...

You gotta love AT&T. I mean, they could have lowered their Texting plans - so people would opt to still keep them & be competitive. But no, it's unlimited or nothing. I hope it bites them in the butt!
 
FSMBP said:
You gotta love AT&T. I mean, they could have lowered their Texting plans - so people would opt to still keep them & be competitive. But no, it's unlimited or nothing. I hope it bites them in the butt!
Click to expand...

I hear you, more greed by our lovelly carriers:rolleyes:

note235 said:
yes but isnt that why the other poster mentioned google voice?:p
Click to expand...

Not sure how that works since I havent used it before.
Is it easy to use and just data dependant?
Do you have to use a google number to text to or your cell number would do?
 
Verizon doesn't have tiered texting plans any more either.

I would use Google Voice for texting, but having two numbers would SUCK and be confusing for people.
 
What if you give everyone your google voice number. forward that number to your cell phone for the voice calls, and the text messages get forwarded to google voice app. Then you can block all text messaging from your carrier. Would this work?
 
Applejuiced said:
Not sure how that works since I havent used it before.
Is it easy to use and just data dependant?
Do you have to use a google number to text to or your cell number would do?
Click to expand...

Google Voice text messages are data dependent.

Unfortunately, so that the text message doesn't count against your plan you will have to text people using your google voice number, and in a way if you have the google voice app on your iPod touch or iPad, it will mimic iMessage (continue a conversation on another device or desktop browser).
 
Most of my friends either have an iPhone or Android phone. Currently we use Google Chat on our phones and/or iPad's for "free text messaging" and soon with iMessage, I'll use that between my iphone 4S and iPads and iPhones and use google chat when sending to Android phones.
 
saving107 said:
Google Voice text messages are data dependent.

Unfortunately, so that the text message doesn't count against your plan you will have to text people using your google voice number, and in a way if you have the google voice app on your iPod touch or iPad, it will mimic iMessage (continue a conversation on another device or desktop browser).
Click to expand...

Nice, I'll have to give it a try.
 
tinydragon123 said:
I am thinking of getting rid of my texting plan and use iMessage and Google Voice for texting when I get my 4S. Is it possible to ask AT&T to block all SMS messages? Or will I need to pay .20 cents for each one?
Click to expand...

Yes! I have Text Messages blocked on all my lines.
 
Nads786 said:
how reliable is google voice for texting?
Click to expand...

saving107 said:
That I know of, I've never missed a text.
Click to expand...

It's reliable, yes. I haven't missed a text either. But I absolutely hate using it for voice, as there is a noticeable delay between the time you talk and the time your caller hears you. On top of that, the app (in my experience) is nails-on-chalkboard slow. Sometimes I've waited for 5+ minutes with the app open just for it to respond and let me use it.

I use it for international texting as I travel to Canada for 10 days every two weeks. If it weren't for their feature where they email you the text messages you receive, I'd quit using Google Voice entirely.

I haven't heard anyone have these complaints on Android, and I plan on picking up an Android phone in the next 2-4 weeks, so I'll give that one last go before I write it off entirely and expense the extra cost of texting to my company.
 
nutmac said:
Although I've never missed a text, Google Voice iPhone app's push notification had been hit or miss.
Click to expand...

I agree that the App is not the best, I'm hoping that the update that was pushed out a little while ago will fix some issues.

img0003s.png
 
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