Why does SMS (text messages) need a data connection?

Question

Level 1

81 points

Why does SMS (text messages) need a data connection?

My iPhone does not have a data plan. I never signed up for one. So whenever I am out of Wifi range and I open the Text Messaging feature I get a message on the screen saying "Your data is switched off, go to settings to turn it on" or something to that effect.

Since when does text messaging need data? It is an annoying message.
Does anyone know why it is looking for a data connection?

Mac Book Pro 17", iPhone4, Mac OS X (10.6.6), 2.8Ghz/8GB/1TBB HD Glossy 17"

Posted on Mar 24, 2011 7:59 PM

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Answer 1

TriniG Author

Level 1

81 points

Mar 24, 2011 9:33 PM in response to Kwopau

I bought a factory unlocked iphone4 from Canada. But I live in a country that does not have 3G tech only Edge (2G) so I never bothered to sign up for a sucky internet connection. Most of the time I don't need it.

I guess it asks for a data connection incase I want to MMS. Oh well.

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Answer 2

Kwopau

Level 4

1,748 points

Mar 24, 2011 8:35 PM in response to TriniG

How does one go without data plan? Unless you still have the 1st Generation iphone?

Anyways, SMS should not require a data connection. However, MMS (long text messages that exceeds 160 characters, video, photo, etc), does require a data connection, so without the data plan, you can't send long messages, video, photo's.

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Answer 3

TriniG Author

Level 1

81 points

Mar 25, 2011 12:30 PM in response to EBSkater

There is no "on/off" button for MMS. Under General Settings>Networks>Cellular data Network: there are the lines to put in APN, Username, Password, MMSC etc but I have all that empty as I have not subscribed to a data plan.
Under Messages there is nothing related either.

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Answer 4

EBSkater

Level 2

496 points

Mar 25, 2011 8:24 AM in response to TriniG

There's a setting to turn off MMS. Have you tried turning that off?

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Answer 5

Kwopau

Level 4

1,748 points

Mar 25, 2011 12:31 PM in response to TriniG

Have you checked under General> Message? That is where you can turn on or off for the MMS, not under setting.

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