WIFI question

[street]

So I have a question about WIFI when I'm at the ranch. If I'm not connected to WIFI (I have no internet) at the ranch does my phone calls count for data usage? Does my text messages get counted as data usage?
Thanks

 

[braumeister]

Text messages are data (distinct from voice). But many (most?) carriers will give you a certain number of text messages per month even without a data plan.

All this should be detailed on your monthly bill.

 

[LOL!]

Your phone should be able to show you your data usage. So look when you get to the ranch and look just before you leave the ranch.

 

[audreyh1]

Calls count against call minutes. Text messages against text messages. Neither counts as data.

 

[CRLLS]

Ummm......SMS should just be counted as texts. MMS texts may count as data. Check with your carrier.

The difference is a text could possibly be MMS if there is a media attachment and/orit is a Group text.

 

[ERD50]

Calls count against call minutes. Text messages against text messages. Neither counts as data.

Ummm......SMS should just be counted as texts. MMS texts may count as data. Check with your carrier.

The difference is a text could possibly be MMS if there is a media attachment and/orit is a Group text.

I've found that MMS (picture or other 'media' texts AND 'group' texts count as data.

We couldn't send/receive either MMS or group texts w/o a data plan (T-Mobile legacy pre-paid). It's possible some carrier might group that texting data in with the text plan though.

-ERD50

 

[RunningBum]

Wondering how this is a WIFI question when you don't have WIFI for the situation in question. And unless you have that google service, cell phone calls don't use wifi and I'm not sure texts do either, do they?

 

[pb4uski]

Depends on your plan, but usually voice and data are separate... but were not in my old plan. Ask your carrier.

 

[street]

Wondering how this is a WIFI question when you don't have WIFI for the situation in question. And unless you have that google service, cell phone calls don't use wifi and I'm not sure texts do either, do they?

LOL >>>> I'm stupid when it comes to this stuff. It may not be a WIFI question but I guess why I said WIFI is when I'm at home and connected to WIFI I don't get charged for text messages but when I'm at the ranch I wanted to know if calls made are data and text messages must count as data when I don't have WIFI.

May be that helps why I said WIFI when I am connected no data used. When I don't have a connection it counts for data and if used to much I get charged if I go over.

 

[target2019]

If you're like me, you'll get this figured out, and then forget the answer next week.
Make sure you text the answer back to your phone.

 

[bingybear]

If you have a typical smart phone and have some apps on it, you could have the apps using your data. Many do stuff in the background.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

For the iPhone several (most? All? Dunno) carriers support calling over WiFi. If you are sending texts to another iPhone user they are sent as iMessages instead of SMS text messages, and so count as data. This can be disabled in settings

 

[street]

Thanks everyone for the help and explaining my issue.

 

[audreyh1]

I've found that MMS (picture or other 'media' texts AND 'group' texts count as data.

We couldn't send/receive either MMS or group texts w/o a data plan (T-Mobile legacy pre-paid). It's possible some carrier might group that texting data in with the text plan though.

-ERD50

That’s true - it’s important to distinguish between SMS and messages that aren’t just “text messages” and send attachments.

 

[audreyh1]

Wondering how this is a WIFI question when you don't have WIFI for the situation in question. And unless you have that google service, cell phone calls don't use wifi and I'm not sure texts do either, do they?

I didn’t understand this since cellphone calls do use WiFi if you are using WiFi calling which I do most of the time, especially overseas.

 

[jriemerm]

There can be subtle differences from carrier to carrier, but it's almost always true that calls and plain text messages don't use data. It's also true as someone said above that some apps installed on a smart phone will use data in the background without your knowledge. To protect against that on an Android phone you can turn off data. As described here:

How to Limit Data Usage on Android - Tech Advisor

--

How to completely turn off your data connection

Swipe down from the top of the screen, select Settings, press Data usage and then flick the Mobile data switch from On to Off - this will completely turn off your mobile data connection.
Note: you will still be able to connect to the internet and use apps as normal if you are connected to a Wi-Fi network.

 

[street]

There can be subtle differences from carrier to carrier, but it's almost always true that calls and plain text messages don't use data. It's also true as someone said above that some apps installed on a smart phone will use data in the background without your knowledge. To protect against that on an Android phone you can turn off data. As described here:

How to Limit Data Usage on Android - Tech Advisor

--

How to completely turn off your data connection

Swipe down from the top of the screen, select Settings, press Data usage and then flick the Mobile data switch from On to Off - this will completely turn off your mobile data connection.
Note: you will still be able to connect to the internet and use apps as normal if you are connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Interesting and thanks to all who tried to help me understand some of the tech in todays world.

 

[RunningBum]

I didn’t understand this since cellphone calls do use WiFi if you are using WiFi calling which I do most of the time, especially overseas.

I guess more devices and networks support this now. My phone does not.

 

[audreyh1]

I guess more devices and networks support this now. My phone does not.

I think wifi calling is very common now. My husbands iPhone 6 with T-mobile has had that support for over 2.5 years, and I have been using it for over 1.5.

I read that other manufacturer's phones support it now as do many carriers.

It's super useful if you are in an area with poor cellphone reception as we are. We had a real headache with dropped calls and poor quality before. And with T-mobile if you are calling the US, or receive a call from the US when you are overseas, wifi calls are free. It works so well I don't hear latency. When someone from the US calls me in Amsterdam and I'm using wifi it sound the same as when they call me at home in the US.

 

[CoolRich59]

Calls count against call minutes. Text messages against text messages. Neither counts as data.

This is my understanding too. One caveat: If you send photos or video via text, I *think* those attachments use data to transmit.

EDIT: Sorry. I posted my reply before reading the thread and now see that the question was answered much more cogently.

 

[Jerry1]

If you're like me, you'll get this figured out, and then forget the answer next week.
Make sure you text the answer back to your phone.

If you're like me, you'll use it like it doesn't matter and as you look at the enormous bill, you'll figure it out. And nothing will help you remember quite like losing a bit of money.

 

[target2019]

If you're like me, you'll use it like it doesn't matter and as you look at the enormous bill, you'll figure it out. And nothing will help you remember quite like losing a bit of money.

Yes, it does work that way. For example, daughter moved into a house, and has no WiFi yet. By the end of two weeks into a new mobile phone billing cycle, she had used 10GB of shared data. Was interesting to see reactions to the text messages that came from carrier. There are other plans, of course.