MMS and iMessage Data Use Questions

[myrtlebee]

Okay, so I just purchased an iPhone the Wednesday and I am on Verizon. I have unlimited texting with a small data package.

The problem I am having is that it seems every time I send or receive a photo it is counting against my paid data usage - I understand that any MMS uses Verizon's data service to send, but why would Verizon be charging me for this data when I am supposed to have unlimited MMS?

I called Verizon and Apple, as well as stopped in two Verizon stores but nobody has an answer. One claimed that it is counting against my data usage because my phone is sending the messages as an iMessage and not as a text. If this is the case (and it could be for most of the time as the bubbles of the messages are almost always blue and not green), why doesn't the phone automatically switch sent/ received messages to regular MMS texts to save me from using paid data? In the settings app I have "send as SMS" turned on.

Also, when I turn off iMessage and send an MMS with a picture, it still shows that it is counting against my paid data. I thought my Verizon package includes unlimited MMS, so why am I being docked my paid data every time I send and receive one?

If someone could explain this to me clearly I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[willmtaylor]

Okay, so I just purchased an iPhone the Wednesday and I am on Verizon. I have unlimited texting with a small data package.

Why? The new iPhone is being announced on September 9th.

The problem I am having is that it seems every time I send or receive a photo it is counting against my paid data usage - I understand that any MMS uses Verizon's data service to send, but why would Verizon be charging me for this data when I am supposed to have unlimited MMS?

Because it's being sent through as iMessages, which use data, and not SMS.

Also, when I turn off iMessage and send an MMS with a picture, it still shows that it is counting against my paid data. I thought my Verizon package includes unlimited MMS, so why am I being docked my paid data every time I send and receive one?

This is the only true problem here, if it's actually happening (which it shouldn't be). Data usage measuring tools are generally delayed, so it could be that SMS isn't actually accruing data usage and that previous data usage is taking time to register. How are you measuring that SMS/MMS is using your data?

 

[myrtlebee]

Why? The new iPhone is being announced on September 9th.



Because it's being sent through as iMessages, which use data, and not SMS.



This is the only true problem here, if it's actually happening (which it shouldn't be). Data usage measuring tools are generally delayed, so it could be that SMS isn't actually accruing data usage and that previous data usage is taking time to register. How are you measuring that SMS/MMS is using your data?

I bought the phone because I needed a phone now and I don't care about having the newest phone when this will do what I want, especially when I prefer the smaller size of the 5S (it is unlikely Apple will be releasing a new 4-inch phone).

I haven't used data for absolutely anything else. I have all settings for data on apps off, and I have actually turned off data when I am not trying to send messages to test this. I monitor the data usage both in the settings app and the My Verizon app. So, yes, I would like to know why it is using my data when iMessage is off and also, like I was asking, why doesn't the phone just revert automatically to sending messages as SMS and MMS instead of iMessages when I am not connected to wifi and only connected to Verizon LTE?

 

[LFSimon]

There is a setting for messages to turn iMessage off. This will force all messaging to use SMS or MMS. Go to the "Settings" app and then scroll down to select Messages and then you'll see the switch.

The default is for iMessage to be on. This sends all messages directed to an iPhone or iPad as data through iMessage rather than SMS through cellular services. All messages sent as iMessage data show up in a blue bubble in the message app and all messages sent as SMS or MMS show up in a green bubble.

 

[nostresshere]

1 - By using data - do you mean your phone shows the use, or you have looked at Verizons site?
2 - How much use are we talking about,and what is your plan, and where is the issue?

 

[willmtaylor]

There is a setting for messages to turn iMessage off. This will force all messaging to use SMS or MMS. Go to the "Settings" app and then scroll down to select Messages and then you'll see the switch.

The default is for iMessage to be on. This sends all messages directed to an iPhone or iPad as data through iMessage rather than SMS through cellular services. All messages sent as iMessage data show up in a blue bubble in the message app and all messages sent as SMS or MMS show up in a green bubble.

It seems as though the OP is already aware of this:

I called Verizon and Apple, as well as stopped in two Verizon stores but nobody has an answer. One claimed that it is counting against my data usage because my phone is sending the messages as an iMessage and not as a text. If this is the case (and it could be for most of the time as the bubbles of the messages are almost always blue and not green), why doesn't the phone automatically switch sent/ received messages to regular MMS texts to save me from using paid data? In the settings app I have "send as SMS" turned on.

Also, when I turn off iMessage and send an MMS with a picture, it still shows that it is counting against my paid data.

 

[willmtaylor]

1 - By using data - do you mean your phone shows the use, or you have looked at Verizons site?

Already been answered:

I monitor the data usage both in the settings app and the My Verizon app.

 

[myrtlebee]

There is a setting for messages to turn iMessage off. This will force all messaging to use SMS or MMS. Go to the "Settings" app and then scroll down to select Messages and then you'll see the switch.

The default is for iMessage to be on. This sends all messages directed to an iPhone or iPad as data through iMessage rather than SMS through cellular services. All messages sent as iMessage data show up in a blue bubble in the message app and all messages sent as SMS or MMS show up in a green bubble.

Let me get this straight - when you text someone who has an iPhone it automatically sends the message as an iMessage and uses paid data up, whereas if it were sent as a text it wouldn't? Who the hell would want it sent as an iMessage then? That doesn't make sense. So, I have to manually turn off iMessages every time I am off wifi to save my data usage? Why can't the phone just use iMessage when around wifi and then use SMS and MMS at other times to save data? Why is there not a setting for this since it seems common sense?

1 - By using data - do you mean your phone shows the use, or you have looked at Verizons site?
2 - How much use are we talking about,and what is your plan, and where is the issue?

Both show the use. The phone shows more use, however, and the verizon app and website show less, but it still goes up with each picture message.

 

[willmtaylor]

Let me get this straight - when you text someone who has an iPhone it automatically sends the message as an iMessage...whereas if it were sent as a text it wouldn't?

Correct.

Who the hell would want it sent as an iMessage then?

Apparently the vast majority of iPhone users.

So, I have to manually turn off iMessages every time I am off wifi to save my data usage? Why can't the phone just use iMessage when around wifi and then use SMS and MMS at other times to save data? Why is there not a setting for this since it seems common sense?

"Common sense?" I vastly prefer iMessage to standard SMS, and most forum posters I've seen get miffed when iMessage goes down. I don't recall ever seeing someone else complain about wanting to use SMS in lieu of iMessage on these forums.

 

[LFSimon]

Let me get this straight - when you text someone who has an iPhone it automatically sends the message as an iMessage and uses paid data up, whereas if it were sent as a text it wouldn't? Who the hell would want it sent as an iMessage then? That doesn't make sense....

I believe the vast majority of users have data allowances that are large enough that this really doesn't put much of a dent into it so that it isn't a concern. This is the case with me and I really prefer iMessage. If you don't want the phone to use iMessage then just leave it off. It isn't complicated.

When iMessage was introduced some people still had plans where SMS/MMS messages still had individual charges and were not unlimited so, for them, the data usage was cheaper. This is still the case for many in sending international messages and there probably are still plans for some that don't have unlimited SMS/MMS messages. Those users might just as well say "Who the hell would want it sent as an SMS or MMS when it could be sent as an iMessage?"

 

[yanki01]

I monitor the data usage both in the settings app and the My Verizon app.

nothing regarding your question but does your data usages ever match? Att always seems to show I use more data than what my iPhone shows. I always reset before bed (wifi at home) the last night of my billing cycle.

 

[myrtlebee]

nothing regarding your question but does your data usages ever match? Att always seems to show I use more data than what my iPhone shows. I always reset before bed (wifi at home) the last night of my billing cycle.

So far, no, but it's the opposite of yours. My phone's settings shows more data used than my Verizon account.

 

[solodogg]

Let me get this straight - when you text someone who has an iPhone it automatically sends the message as an iMessage and uses paid data up, whereas if it were sent as a text it wouldn't? Who the hell would want it sent as an iMessage then?

lets see, where do we start with the advantages of iMessages over SMS...

1.) Security
2.) Full size images (MMS compresses)
3.) Send/receive from multiple i devices
4.) Works on wifi with weak data
5.) no 160 character limitation between cellular carriers
6.) messages without video/audio/images take 1-2kb, not even a drop in the bucket for a 200mb plan.
7.) Blue > Green
8.) Because Steve said we like it better
9.) can send other types of docs from a mac computer to someone (pdf, pages doc, etc.)
10.) message delivered confirmation
11.) can send/receive read receipts
12.) can see when other user is responding to your message
13.) can receive messages at multiple e-mail addresses or phone number
14.) fully functional group messages (mute convo, leave convo, etc.)

I'm sure i'm missing something here...but i'll leave it turned on. Friend of mine with a grandfathered 200mb AT&T plan and 450 minutes a month with no SMS gets by just fine using iMessages.