I used messages to send a text to another iPhone user and I see I got charged even though I turned off the send SMS feature. The text reply from that user got billed to me. I think the reason is both users need to be using ios 5 so it goes through iCloud. The description suggests that in the first paragraph of the description of how imessages work from the apple site but does not repeat this apparent limitation in the second paragraph suggesting you can send messages to other iPhone users without cost. Is what I am describing and assuming sound correct?
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iMessages feature misleading
- Thread starter jtt2006
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Your post confused me. iMessage is only for iOS 5 users. If you are trying to send an iMessage to someone not on iOS 5, then it will be send just like a regular ole SMS.
iMessages.
I know that a text sent is called an iMessage if using ios5 but there is no way to differentiate that froma regular message because you use the same app so in retrospect I did not send an IMessage but how do you know when your contacts will get around to getting ios5 to save on costs. I think it is still misleading or confusing as to when a message is an imessage
I know that a text sent is called an iMessage if using ios5 but there is no way to differentiate that froma regular message because you use the same app so in retrospect I did not send an IMessage but how do you know when your contacts will get around to getting ios5 to save on costs. I think it is still misleading or confusing as to when a message is an imessage
If it's an iMessage, your Send button changes to blue and it says "iMessage" instead of "Text Message" in your text input field.
If not, it's being sent as an SMS and will be billed according to your plan.
In the box where you type the message it says in grey letters, iMessage or text message. If it says text message in grey letters, it will send as a text.
I don't agree. There's a difference in color, as has been explained, and as for how you know when your contacts will get around to getting iOS 5? Well, all you can do is ask them. In the meantime, if cost is truly an issue, then perhaps you should tell all of your contacts who are not on iOS 5 to email you instead.
thank you, that alone totally explains it. I thought it was a different app or something.
swingerofbirch
macrumors 68040
The suggestion of e-mailing brings up a question I've always had. I've only ever used dumb phones and never got into texting on them. With smartphones, it seems like the acts of texting, instant messaging, and e-mailing are remarkably similar. How do you choose one over the other? Is the only benefit of texting that the message could go to someone with a dumbphone that doesn't have an e-mail client? Otherwise why wouldn't you always e-mail to avoid texting charges?
I guess it's just that old habits are hard to break. Text messaging has been around for a lot longer than mobile e-mail so a lot of people use texting without even thinking about it.
Most of my friends don't even have e-mail set up on their phones so I often find myself sending texts to them. I'd love to drop texting completely but thankfully I'm on a capped plan so it never costs me more than $6 anyway.
I decided not to use a texting plan on the iPhone. Between email, GoogleVoice and now iMessage, texting should be obsolete.
I prefer email honestly.
For those on a limited data plan, email would use data...not a lot I guess, but it can add up!
For those on a limited data plan, email would use data...not a lot I guess, but it can add up!
if you're counting your Kbs just pay the extra 3 latte's a month and get a man's data plan.
Another solution to address that confusion is "To the contact info add the email address of the person used for the iMessage , then from contacts select /Send Message".
Then it's going to ask you to choose whether the email or the phone number to be used. Select the email address and next time when you go to your Message/iMessage app and select that conversation, it will never try to send it as a regular text because it's not using the phone number.
And you won't be accidentally charged if you forget about the colors and the gray iMessage sign before you start typing.
That's the best solution I could think of.
Please correct me if I'm wrong
Ps: And I have to say that , I agree with OP about getting confused.
Say your intension is sending the text by iMessage , and you can easily forget about the colors, which one was which. Or the other party could stop using an iOS device and since you always chatted using iMessage you again could ignore about the color change. Or you think you are on a wifi or 3g but you might be losing the connection for a few minutes or seconds, again it may try to send it using as a regular text.
You may end up paying for that , even worse if that happens for international texting.
Some of you guys say, it's obvious before tapping the send button whether it's an iMessage or regular . Yes you may be right but Apple is famous of making their customers relaxed and comfortable.
iMessage could be a seperate app. and I wouldn't object that.
Then it's going to ask you to choose whether the email or the phone number to be used. Select the email address and next time when you go to your Message/iMessage app and select that conversation, it will never try to send it as a regular text because it's not using the phone number.
And you won't be accidentally charged if you forget about the colors and the gray iMessage sign before you start typing.
That's the best solution I could think of.
Please correct me if I'm wrong
Ps: And I have to say that , I agree with OP about getting confused.
Say your intension is sending the text by iMessage , and you can easily forget about the colors, which one was which. Or the other party could stop using an iOS device and since you always chatted using iMessage you again could ignore about the color change. Or you think you are on a wifi or 3g but you might be losing the connection for a few minutes or seconds, again it may try to send it using as a regular text.
You may end up paying for that , even worse if that happens for international texting.
Some of you guys say, it's obvious before tapping the send button whether it's an iMessage or regular . Yes you may be right but Apple is famous of making their customers relaxed and comfortable.
iMessage could be a seperate app. and I wouldn't object that.
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