MMS and Data Usage

[NeedHelp99]

I just setup a Public Mobile (PM) account. The phone has been on WIFI since the PM account was activated. I sent a few text messages to notify close contacts of my new mobile number. When I later logged into the Public Mobile account I notices that the few MMS messages I sent had used 5+ mgs of data. I recognize that is not huge but it’s my understanding that the PM account has free unlimited text/picture messages. Why am I seeing data usage associated with the MMS messages?

[Bloozguy]

Well, I like RCS because you get read receipts, don't have to wonder if your message got read or not.  Plus you can see them typing back replies.

And, I found this on my android (Razr) phone help section:
"Delivery of SMS and MMS messages, which are always sent through your carrier, won't change as part of your use of RCS chats"

So, I can't see any negatives using RCS, nor would that affect your picture sending ability. I've shut my mobile data off and can still send/receive pictures, (RCS),so definitely no data usage there.  But you do need a data plan to do this. 

Sometimes at work, (well under my old Petro Mobility account), it would have very sketchy mobile data internet  connections, and some messages would not get sent with RCS , but it would auto switch to SMS,  I just don't get read receipts in those rare instances.

I can see no valid reasons to shut off RCS.  It's a total win -win for Android users.

[NeedHelp99]

Thanks to everyone who replied to this post! Lots of insightful and helpful people here 😁. I’ll watch the data usage over the next few days.

cheers!

[darlicious]

@NeedHelp99 

MMS does not count toward your data usage as it uses a separate server. You merely need your mobile data enabled. The approximately 5mb data usage you are seeing is the 5mb buffer pm uses to ensure uninterrupted data streaming with your service. This data is reset nightly or if you enable airplane mode you can log into your account to see your data counter has reset the 5mb back to your data bucket.

To contact customer support click below:

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437

To pre-verify your account in your private messages only include your full name, address, email, phone # and 4 digit acct pin #

[BKNS27]

@NeedHelp99 

The data is probably used up by your apps updating in the background.

MMS will not eat-up any of your data.

[JL9]

Shouldn't be related to your MMS at all...

[BeachNBeer]

@NeedHelp99  An MMS would appear in your history like the below. It says "Data Event" with no data charged.

If it says "Web" with data usage that means you're not sending an MMS but likely sending stuff through iMessage or RCS.

Due take note there is a data buffer of like 5.321 MB when you turn your data on. When you turn data off after awhile that buffer will drop from your data usage (if that's what you're seeing)

To check your usage history under the green button that says "Change Plan" click "View my usage. It will show you calls, text, data & web events.

Keep us posted!

[Meow]

DATA has to be ON when sending/receiving MMS. It should not use your data allowance BUT most likely some other apps have managed to sneak up and connect to Internet. OS is notorious of wanting to be 'on-line'.

Every time I activate data and later check I can see various apps connecting; like Samsung experience service, google play, etc. Even though they are set NOT to use data in background.

You just have to live with it and watch when you activate data.

[BeachNBeer]

@NeedHelp99 MMS is included in your plan. However how you wrote I am thinking you're not actually using the MMS network but in fact using iMessage or RCS (Android) which would use Wifi or data.

So what type of phone do you have? Is it an iPhone? If it's an iPhone make sure your settings are all correct or turn off iMessage. Is it's android turn of RCS chat.

[hTideGnow]

HI @NeedHelp99  MMS will use data and will record the data used but will not counted towards your data bucket.