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$10 plan - does texting on wifi count?

CH8
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

Hi, 

I'm on the $10 plan/30 days.  If i text over wifi, does it count towards the 50 outgoing texts?

17 REPLIES 17


@Haiggy wrote:

@stonechucker wrote:

@Haiggy wrote:

@will13am wrote:

Only messages sent with the SMS app count.  These messages are through the cellular connection only.  


iPhones don't have an SMS app per se - it's all integrated into the Messages app, which automatically switches depending on your target recipient having that address or phone number registered with iMessage. If it has a grey 'iMessage' in the compose field, then you know you're writing an iMessage that will be sent via data (WiFi-only in this case) but if you instead see 'Text Message', that will be sent via SMS on the carrier network.


I don't know about saying that the iPhone doesn't have an SMS app.  


@will13amwas saying that anything sent with the SMS app would count, when that's not true, so I elaborated a little bit about what the Messages app does, without getting into Android world since the inquirer does not have an Android. If an Android user is reading this, then you can envision this like Google Hangouts, or Facebook Messenger with SMS integration. The Messages app on iOS has automatic SMS integration.


@CH8 I think a lot of the confusion comes form the idea that it is all loosely referred to as "text" where as with ipones some are SMS (text message using cellular) and some are imessages (messages using wifi/data). I believe Apple got alerted to this confusion and hence the app is no longer called imessage, it is just messages now. So with this in mind technically you are not able to send a "text" without using cellular. However, with apps utilizing wifi/data you are able to send "messages" without using cellular on iphone or android.

Haiggy
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

@stonechucker wrote:

@Haiggy wrote:

@will13am wrote:

Only messages sent with the SMS app count.  These messages are through the cellular connection only.  


iPhones don't have an SMS app per se - it's all integrated into the Messages app, which automatically switches depending on your target recipient having that address or phone number registered with iMessage. If it has a grey 'iMessage' in the compose field, then you know you're writing an iMessage that will be sent via data (WiFi-only in this case) but if you instead see 'Text Message', that will be sent via SMS on the carrier network.


I don't know about saying that the iPhone doesn't have an SMS app.  


@will13amwas saying that anything sent with the SMS app would count, when that's not true, so I elaborated a little bit about what the Messages app does, without getting into Android world since the inquirer does not have an Android. If an Android user is reading this, then you can envision this like Google Hangouts, or Facebook Messenger with SMS integration. The Messages app on iOS has automatic SMS integration.


@Haiggy wrote:

@will13am wrote:

Only messages sent with the SMS app count.  These messages are through the cellular connection only.  


iPhones don't have an SMS app per se - it's all integrated into the Messages app, which automatically switches depending on your target recipient having that address or phone number registered with iMessage. If it has a grey 'iMessage' in the compose field, then you know you're writing an iMessage that will be sent via data (WiFi-only in this case) but if you instead see 'Text Message', that will be sent via SMS on the carrier network.


I don't know about saying that the iPhone doesn't have an SMS app.  I can't use my iPadAir or my macbookAir with the messaging app to send an SMS unless the I have an iPhone associated with those devices.  I used to have an iPhone, and at the time I could send SMS from my other devices - back on Android now (the better platform in my opinion) and can't send SMS from those related devices any longer.

 

Bluebubble messages no problem.  My iClound account still is attached.

See my previous post in this thread to avoid all confusion.  I said all this clear as glass.

Haiggy
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

@krazykiwi wrote:

@Haiggy wrote:

@will13am wrote:

Only messages sent with the SMS app count.  These messages are through the cellular connection only.  


iPhones don't have an SMS app per se - it's all integrated into the Messages app, which automatically switches depending on your target recipient having that address or phone number registered with iMessage. If it has a grey 'iMessage' in the compose field, then you know you're writing an iMessage that will be sent via data (WiFi-only in this case) or Text Message (SMS on the carrier network).


You are correct, the imessage over wifi only works iphone to iphone. However whatsapp works with any phone over wifi.

Your colour coding isn't right though, all incoming is grey, outgoing to iphones are blue, outgoing to all others are green.


 

Compose field is always grey until you send it. I should have worded it better originally. If you instead see 'Text Message', that will be sent via SMS on the carrier network:

 

Turn-off-Handwriting-Interface-in-iMessage-text-field.jpg


@Haiggy wrote:

@will13am wrote:

Only messages sent with the SMS app count.  These messages are through the cellular connection only.  


iPhones don't have an SMS app per se - it's all integrated into the Messages app, which automatically switches depending on your target recipient having that address or phone number registered with iMessage. If it has a grey 'iMessage' in the compose field, then you know you're writing an iMessage that will be sent via data (WiFi-only in this case) or Text Message (SMS on the carrier network).


You are correct, the imessage over wifi only works iphone to iphone. However whatsapp works with any phone over wifi.

Your colour coding isn't right though, all incoming is grey, outgoing to iphones are blue, outgoing to all others are green.


@Haiggy wrote:

@krazykiwi wrote:

No these won't count towards your allotment.  

This is not true, SMS will still use cellular even if you are connected to WiFi.


Yeah, if you just have wifi turned on and using a phone other than iphone with the native messaging app, than yeah, it will use celluar. What we are saying is if you are using an iphone ( My little girl has my old 4s with no number, not even a sim card.) using imessage or using an app like whats app on any phone than it will use the wifi not celluar.

Haiggy
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

@will13am wrote:

Only messages sent with the SMS app count.  These messages are through the cellular connection only.  


iPhones don't have an SMS app per se - it's all integrated into the Messages app, which automatically switches depending on your target recipient having that address or phone number registered with iMessage. If it has a grey 'iMessage' in the compose field, then you know you're writing an iMessage that will be sent via data (WiFi-only in this case) but if you instead see 'Text Message', that will be sent via SMS on the carrier network.


@CH8 wrote:

that's great info re: the different colours!! 

 

So just confirming, if i send an imessage over wifi, it won't count?  or do f i have to use an app like what's app?


Only messages sent with the SMS app count.  These messages are through the cellular connection only.  

Haiggy
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

@CH8 wrote:

that's great info re: the different colours!! 

 

So just confirming, if i send an imessage over wifi, it won't count?  or do f i have to use an app like what's app?


Correct, iMessages (blue bubbles) that are replied to via WiFi will not count against your SMS usage just like other messaging apps like WhatsApp, however if you are *not* on WiFi, your replies will not get received by your recipients if you disable 'send as SMS' like @krazykiwi suggested since it has no way of sending the message.

Haiggy
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

@krazykiwi wrote:

No these won't count towards your allotment.  

This is not true, SMS will still use cellular even if you are connected to WiFi.

CH8
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

that's great info re: the different colours!! 

 

So just confirming, if i send an imessage over wifi, it won't count?  or do f i have to use an app like what's app?

CH8
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

ok thanks.  So i guess unless i'm texting from iphone to iphone, sounds like texting on wifi still counts torwards the 50 limit, eh?

 

krazykiwi
Mayor / Maire

@CH8 If you are using an iphone, I recommend turning off "send as SMS" . This way you will not accidently use your allotment, of course then you will need to turn it on whenever yuo want to send a text as SMS using your allotment.

popping
Retired Oracle / Oracle Retraité

@CH8 wrote:

Hi, 

I'm on the $10 plan/30 days.  If i text over wifi, does it count towards the 50 outgoing texts?


Regular text messages are using mobile voice channel to send text messages.

If you use an app like WhatsApp to send text over wifi, it will not counted toward your 50 outgoing text.  

krazykiwi
Mayor / Maire

@CH8 wrote:

Hi, 

I'm on the $10 plan/30 days.  If i text over wifi, does it count towards the 50 outgoing texts?


No these won't count towards your allotment. 

 

stonechucker
Mayor / Maire

True texting is via SMS, which uses the regular phone network.


Texting via WiFi, isn't the same thing.  It's going to be a data message.  So no.  It won't count.

 

If you're using an iPhone, blue bubble messages are data.  Green bubbles are SMS.  Green bubbles will count against your limited messages.

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