does imessage use data plan?

Rysz wrote:

iMessages go over the internet, so they do use up your data plan.

Unless you are on an iPhone sending iMessages to non-iOS users and sending them as SMS. Then they are text messages and not data.

Rysz wrote:

If you're paying for an "unlimited" text plan and a "limited" data plan, there is no advantage for you in using iMessage. Use regulat text messages.

Unless you want to send text messages to iPad users. They won't get regular SMS text messages.

I know this is a late entry, but wanted to let you know this feature is useful. I bought my girlfriend in the Philippines a 4S. She has unlimited data on Globe Telecom as so do I on AT&T. Before I would have to pay international text charges. Now our texts to each other are free.

It also comes in handy when I am on my unlocked iPhone I use while in the Philippines. Most of my friends and family have iOS 5 devices, so this as well as Facetime helps with communication back home.

So there you go I have good use for it as an international traveller.

iMessage does use data, that's why it was created. Some people do not have unlimited texting, and being able to send a message to another iOS 4+ user over the web is the premise behind iMessage. Text messages do take very little data to transmit, and if you have a WiFi connection, then it is free (it will NOT use your cell phone's data plan).

People who do not have an iOS 4+ device get your messages from iMessage via SMS.

When I am at work, I use my company's WiFi connection to send/receive messages, check email, etc. to preserve my data plan. When I am at home, I use my home WiFi connection to do the same. If I am in an area where WiFi is available, I connect to it to save data usage on my plan. If all else fails, then I use my 3G connection.

Hope this helps clarify things for everyone.

"People who do not have an iOS 4+ device get your messages from iMessage via SMS"

To be correct, people using a phone which is not an iPhone using iOS 4 or later, will get an SMS.

iPads and iPod touchs will not get SMS nor will anyone without an actual cell phone data plan.

That is true.

Should have stated it as:

"People who do not have an iOS 4+ device will not get an iMessage. If they have a phone, they will get an SMS. If not, they will get nothing."

Sorry if it caused any confusion

I wasn't using iMessage and somehow it got turned on when I upgraded to IO6. I texted my hubby (who had iMessage turned off) and he didn't get anything untl I turned iMessage off again. (we were both in the car - just sending him a reminder for later - we are not that geeky)

My question is, how does your phone determine that the person you ar iMessaging has the correct device to receive an iMessage? Just keep trying until it is received?

The phone should initially try to send it via iMessage. If it cannot, it should be sending it via SMS.

I was working a party on Saturday night and was messaging a friend who has an iPhone 4 from Sprint. One of my messages could not be delivered via iMessage, and it automagically tried it as a SMS and it went through.

Brent M. wrote:

There's an app for that. (: Some 3rd party apps for iMessage are compatible with Android and Symbian.

That would be "some 3rd party apps as an alternative to iMessage are also compatible with Android and Symbian"

This allows iOS users to connect with other platforms since other platforms do not have iMessage.

Blue bubbles = iMessage = no SMS usage. Data only. Even if she is out of the country.

However, keep in mind that there is a setting that will forward as SMS if iMessage isn't working. You may want to turn that off if you're concerned about her SMS usage.

Brekay wrote:

Hi, what about imessage from my daughter in france to my cell or ipad in usa. is that using alot of her data. She only has 200 texts to use.

If she is connected via wifi, then she will not use any of her cellular data plan. If she is connected via cellular and NOT wifi, then she will use a portion of her data plan but if the message is sent as an iMessage, it would not count against her SMS text message limit.

iMessages - messages sent over Apple's free service between Apple devices with iMessage account enabled, are NOT sent through any cell carriers SMS texting service. They may or may not use cellular data, depending on the connection at the time they are sent.

SMS text messages always go through your cellular carriers network, and thus always count against your limits (if you have limited texting). The iOS messageing app will send as SMS text if that option is enabled, and any one of the recipients is not using an Apple device (or has not registered for an iMessage account even if they have an Apple device). SMS texts, by definition, use no cellular carrier data (they go over the same channels as voice communication).

SMS = Short Message Service. That's what "texting" is. SMS uses the cellular network that you make phone calls on. iMessage uses data service that your internet uses. So, if you can't open a web page then you can't send an iMessage.

To turn off sending as SMS, go to Settings -> Messaging -> Send as SMS. When that slider turned off, iMessages that can't be sent won't default to SMS.

Ideally, you should consult the coverage map to find out where the hot spots are located. What kind of data plan does she have? iMessage can be sent on your mobile data network, it doesn't have to be WiFi. Any internet connection will work.

Brekay wrote:

Problem is she cant connect to wifi yet and i even bought her the att hot spot plan for wifi. She is near the sea and they must not have att hotspot in la croisic france.

A wifi hotspot is only good for ~50-100 feet from the actual location.

You won't connect to wifi driving down the street. You need to go to where the wifi hotspot is actually located (hotel, restaurant, coffee shop, etc.)

-> http://www.att.com/maps/wifi.html#fbid=zwxTzjBGXOm

So, in all this discussion, does iMessage use up any from of data? And if it does, will it also go through the carrier phone line as a similar SMS or MMS text (sending from iPhone to iPhone) or a convertible text (iPhone to iPod, iPad, Mac)?

You really should read the posts already in the thread, as this has been answered.

To summarize - NO, an iMessage does not go through the carriers SMS system at all. It goes through Apple's iMessage servers. YES it uses data - if that data is sent over wifi, then it will not count against your cellular carriers data plan or limits. IF you are not connected to wifi, then an iMessage will be sent over your cellular service providers data connection, just like any other internet data, and thus will count against your data plan.

So - iMessage over wifi, no charge. iMessage over cellular data connection - either a charge or use counted against your cellular data plan.

Note that an SMS message sent through your carriers service does not use any of your data connection either - SMS texts are sent via the cellular phone voice channel, not the data channel (you can turn cellular data OFF and still send and receive SMS texts through your carrier). MMS however does use cellular data connections.