do I have to use data in order to send a picture SMS?

[youxing]

can't send picture SMS without data or wifi

[Yummy]

DATA has to be ON in order to send MMS even though sending/receiving will NOT use your data allowance.

[computergeek541]

---

@youxing wrote:

can't send picture SMS without data or wifi

---

With a picture, that's not actually SMS, so that's why it doesn't work. Not only is a mobile data connection required that the other two members have mentioend, but MMS can't be sent by Wi-Fi. If of a picture gets transmitted to someone else using Wi-Fi, that ceases to be an MMS message.

[Alexandf]

@youxing 

yes you need to open data or wifi as well. 

[darlicious]

@dust2dust 

Lol ... I read that post differently but now that I read your post I see what the OP is asking.

@youxing 

Did you just activate? Or have you been a customer a while? Have you ever been able to send MMS just using mobile data?

Do you have an iPhone? Have you updated the carrier profile? Or alternatively your APN? If you have an iPhone check for software updates and then on Wi-Fi or connected to iTunes update your carrier profile. Once you do this you should be able to use your mobile data and send and receive MMS texts. As mentioned in the above post go into your settings and ensure that you have also enabled SMS/MMS in your phone so that you can communicate via text with Android phones and that you don't use mobile data when it is not needed.

[dust2dust]

Actual technical MMS requires cellular data. iphones can send pictures on wifi or cellular data to other idevices. If you're sending to an Android then turn on MMS in imessage (it should be on anyway along with SMS) and then turn on cellular data. the phone will try to take some data just for itself which is all settable by you and then the MMS will not take your data.

[darlicious · Accepted solution]

@youxing 

To send MMS or picture text you only need to have your data enabled on your phone. You do not need to have actual plan data as the data used to send a picture text go through a separate server so it does not count against plan data nor does it require you to have any planned data or add on data to send or receive MMS text.