How can one tell if a received message in iMessage is SMS? (and threfore cost $$)

Question

Level 1

8 points

How can one tell if a received message in iMessage is SMS? (and threfore cost $$)

I have a per-message text plan (I'm not a big texter) on my iPhone 4S.

If a non-iOS 5 device sends me an SMS (like an Android device, or pre-iOS 5 iPhone), I'm going to pay for that incoming SMS. Does iMessage show me that?

I see from other discussions that iMessage conveniently colors (among other cues) the outgoing messages blue for iMessage (read: free), and green for SMS (pay). But incoming messages are all gray colored (as far as I can tell).

I'd like to know if I'm paying to receive these messages, and I don't know how iMessage might be telling me that.

Anybody know?

iPhone 4S, iOS 5.0.1

Posted on Jan 12, 2012 2:52 PM

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Answer 1

danib62

Level 1

91 points

Jan 12, 2012 2:58 PM in response to Wil S

Incoming messages are always gray. If you haven't yet sent a message it should say the top of the conversation if it's a text message or imessage. If the format changes mid-thread it will also be noted.

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Answer 2

Wil S Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 12, 2012 3:16 PM in response to danib62

Hmmm... maybe that does answer the question. Is it always correct to say that if your outgoing message will be (or is) SMS (colored green, indicated as 'Text Message' in the input box) because of your texting partner's non iOS 5 device, then any incoming messages from that partner must also be SMS?

Said differently, there are no cases where outgoing messages are blue (iMessage, free), while incoming messages could be via SMS. (?)

And said one more time, iMessage doesn't have 'mixed mode' conversations... the traffic is always either iMessage both ways, or SMS both ways. Is that right?

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Answer 3

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Jan 12, 2012 3:22 PM in response to Wil S

Wil S wrote:

And said one more time, iMessage doesn't have 'mixed mode' conversations... the traffic is always either iMessage both ways, or SMS both ways. Is that right?

In a perfect world, yes. But we don't live in a perfect world. You know when you send a message whether it's an iMessage or not. But you don't have any control when the receiver responds. If not connected to 3G or WiFi, and your carrier charges for received SMS's, guess what...you're gonna pay.

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Answer 4

danib62

Level 1

91 points

Jan 12, 2012 3:25 PM in response to Wil S

you can have a mixed mode conversation if you both have iphones with ios 5 but one person doesn't have reception or their phone is off. In this case by default iOS will attempt to deliver the message via SMS. If this happens the bubble for the sent message will show as green and if you recieved the message there will be a dashed line and a note that says "text message".

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Answer 5

Wil S Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 12, 2012 3:59 PM in response to danib62

OK. Great. I've not seen any other discussion of this delayed delivery corner case or screen shots. I'll be on the lookout for that corner case.

Sound like a good rule of thumb is to keep your phone on (and stay in range of 3G or WiFi if possible) to avoid this if you anticipate someone texting you...

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