iMessages - does it make unlimited texting useless?

[cowbellallen]

I'm super late to the party on this, and I don't quite understand how this works.

My wife and I each have iPhones, but we've been paying $10/month for unlimited text messaging. With the money crunch, we're looking for as many ways to save as possible.

If I ditch unlimited texts, will I still be able to send/receive text messages from my Android friends and friends who aren't using iMessage - without getting billed for it? If not, what's the best solution.

$10/month is quite a lot and I'd love to know if we can cut it and still be able to message with our non iPhone friends...

 

[swiftaw]

Here's the easy thing to remember.

Any messages that you send that show up as Blue are iMessages, these are sent via Data and would continue to be free if your dropped your text messaging plan.

Any messages that show up as Green are SMS text messages and are currently covered under your unlimited texting plan, if you dropped the plan you would be charged for each individual green message.

 

[AppleFanatic10]

I'm super late to the party on this, and I don't quite understand how this works.

My wife and I each have iPhones, but we've been paying $10/month for unlimited text messaging. With the money crunch, we're looking for as many ways to save as possible.

If I ditch unlimited texts, will I still be able to send/receive text messages from my Android friends and friends who aren't using iMessage - without getting billed for it? If not, what's the best solution.

$10/month is quite a lot and I'd love to know if we can cut it and still be able to message with our non iPhone friends...

Nope. If you want to text your Android friends then you'll need something like unlimited texting because you will be billed every time you text your Android buddies. Green = SMS, Blue = iMessage

 

[Peter Franks]

Also be aware that when they, or if they ever switch from Apple to Android, you can continue to see 'delivered' messages that they aren't in fact receiving. I have had this with 2 people so far, who I found out later that they never received them. I assumed they were still on iPhones. A bug in iMessage for people who switch to Android or Windows phones after Apple.

 

[Applejuiced]

Like said above imessages are only between Apple devices.
If you remove your text package you will either never be able to send/receive from other phones or you'd be paying per text every time someone sends you or you send a text message.

 

[Zxxv]

Nope. If you want to text your Android friends then you'll need something like unlimited texting because you will be billed every time you text your Android buddies. Green = SMS, Blue = iMessage

Just use twitters direct message feature.

 

[Applejuiced]

Just use twitters direct message feature.

Not sure if everyone I know uses twitter direct or even have a twitter account

 

[eyoungren]

Just use twitters direct message feature.

Is everyone you know, including all your relatives on Twitter? Are you on Facebook? I could message you via FB too. Might as well have said Facebook as well.

I could send my mom a DM using Twitter, but it'd never get there because my mom isn't on Twitter. My dad is pushing 80 and does not even have an iPhone. He has no online presence. How do I send him a DM via Twitter?

Take a moment to think. Not everyone is on Twitter.

 

[AppleFanatic10]

Just use twitters direct message feature.

Not everyone has a twitter account dude.

 

[carjakester]

What plan are you on where you're still paying for texting separately? Most plans now include unlimited talk and text, the money is in data.

 

[Zxxv]

Is everyone you know, including all your relatives on Twitter? Are you on Facebook? I could message you via FB too. Might as well have said Facebook as well.

I could send my mom a DM using Twitter, but it'd never get there because my mom isn't on Twitter. My dad is pushing 80 and does not even have an iPhone. He has no online presence. How do I send him a DM via Twitter?

Take a moment to think. Not everyone is on Twitter.

I don't use spybook thats why I mentioned twitter. Yes everyone i know is either on twitter or iMessage. I sometimes joke I won't talk to people who aren't on iMessage so refuse to install 3rd party texting apps. Twitter is middle ground because I enjoy it as a public sms service (i.e. what you post in 140 characters is like group chat and anyone can join in).

I fail to see what your 80yr old dad with the details you provided has to do with texting in the context of this conversation. Same with your mum. I think we are chatting at cross purposes in regards the topic.

 

[eyoungren]

I don't use spybook thats why I mentioned twitter. Yes everyone i know is either on twitter or iMessage. I sometimes joke I won't talk to people who aren't on iMessage so refuse to install 3rd party texting apps. Twitter is middle ground because I enjoy it as a public sms service (i.e. what you post in 140 characters is like group chat and anyone can join in).

I fail to see what your 80yr old dad with the details you provided has to do with texting in the context of this conversation. Same with your mum. I think we are chatting at cross purposes in regards the topic.

You suggested using Twitter to DM a person as an alternative to iMessage. With that statement you make the assumption that everyone the OP knows is on Twitter - or if they aren't they should be.

You can't know that, nor can you assume it.

My parents were provided as an example to illustrate that point.

Apparently, if someone wishes to communicate with you they have to do it on your terms. Most of the rest of us can't force those around us to do that simply for our own convenience.

 

[CEmajr]

No because we all have those few friends who happened to choose the wrong phone who can't use iMessage. So for them we still need SMS. You get charged even if they send you a message too.

 

[maliu]

Use whatsapp.

 

[T5BRICK]

For quite a while I was messaging all of my iPhone using friends with iMessage, and everyone else with Google Voice. Worked out pretty well 99% of the time.