topic Do picture downloads via SMS count against Data usage? in Get Support

Do picture downloads via SMS count against Data usage?

Andy85 — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 17:51:59 GMT

Hello,

When receiving a picture via an SMS text message, I need to turn on my phone data to download the image. By doing so, does this action count against my data usage?

The reason I ask is because with my previous cellphone service provider, this action did not require a data plan. I was on a simple talk and text plan yet I was able to download images sent to me via SMS text.

With Public Mobile, when I visit my data usage, it appears as though there is data activity on the days I download images through SMS text. For context, I always keep my data off since I have a $15 cellphone plan with limited data.

Thanks

Re: Do picture downloads via SMS count against Data usage?

hTideGnow — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 17:53:10 GMT

HI @Andy85

MMS , picture messaging, does not cost you your data in your data bucket. But you need Mobile data turned on for it to work

Re: Do picture downloads via SMS count against Data usage?

Andy85 — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 17:54:12 GMT

That would require that I am around Wifi though, correct?

Re: Do picture downloads via SMS count against Data usage?

hTideGnow — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 17:56:58 GMT

@Andy85 wrote:
That would require that I am around Wifi though, correct?

HI @Andy85

No. If you are talking about iMessage, you will need Wifi so it won't cost you data, or you can use data

But MMS, aka picture messaging, you do not need wifi, just you need to turn on Mobile data for MMS to send. And as I said earlier, you have it turned on but it won't cost you actual data

Re: Do picture downloads via SMS count against Data usage?

Yummy — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 17:57:21 GMT

NO. SMS/MMS does not use your data. Even though you have to have data ON to get/send MMS it will not use data allowance.

Re: Do picture downloads via SMS count against Data usage?

Andy85 — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 18:01:11 GMT

Good to know. Would you know why my data usage appears to increase when I download an image via SMS text?

Re: Do picture downloads via SMS count against Data usage?

dust2dust — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 18:07:46 GMT

Because your OS and apps may very well use some internet data to sync things and such. So turning on data would have that side effect. Same as turning on wifi but you wouldn't care about that consumption. But there's no actual data consumption taken by the transmission of the MMS.

Re: Do picture downloads via SMS count against Data usage?

Andy85 — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 18:16:30 GMT

Thank you

Re: Do picture downloads via SMS count against Data usage?

Andy85 — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 18:17:02 GMT

Oh ok, Thank you for the information. I appreciate it!

Re: Do picture downloads via SMS count against Data usage?

hTideGnow — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 18:21:21 GMT

@Andy85 wrote:
Good to know. Would you know why my data usage appears to increase when I download an image via SMS text?

Hi @Andy85

if you are talking about the phone data tracker, they will track regardless

but if you are talking about tracker on PM page, then maybe you are getting iMessage or RCS