International Texting -- iMessage vs. SMS/MMS

First off, it’s not really “2G data”, rather it’s whatever data is available throttled at T-Mobile’s end to about 128 kbps.

Texting includes SMS and MMS but be aware that MMS uses data. So, if the data is throttled, the MMS will be throttled. Sending a 3 MB picture will take quite a while. iMessage is a data app, same answer. You might want to set your phone to not automatically download MMS content.

I have an iPhone and use iMessage with SMS and MMS enabled. I assume you also have an iPhone since that is the only way to use iMessage. I have been to multiple countries and have never been charged for using iMessage since international texting is including in my plan. I have used iMessage to other iPhone users and Android users. However, I always get a confirmation text once I land in a country that is included in the plan. Since you don't say where you plan to go, make sure you see the confirmation text since the international data and texting is a limited list of countries. The confirmation text will tell what you can do included in your plan plus upgraded services that you can purchase.

Thanks for that info, but my main goal is to avoid any charges coming from accidentally using cellular service. Is there anything I should turn off when I leave the US? Or anything I should avoid using regarding texting?

Cali Cat wrote:

I have an iPhone and use iMessage with SMS and MMS enabled. I assume you also have an iPhone since that is the only way to use iMessage. I have been to multiple countries and have never been charged for using iMessage since international texting is including in my plan. I have used iMessage to other iPhone users and Android users. However, I always get a confirmation text once I land in a country that is included in the plan. Since you don't say where you plan to go, make sure you see the confirmation text since the international data and texting is a limited list of countries. The confirmation text will tell what you can do included in your plan plus upgraded services that you can purchase.

The only way this works is if you turned off data while overseas with iMessages to fall back to SMS.  iMessages ALWAYS sends over data unless you are not connected over data or sending to a person who doesn’t have an iPhone.  iMessages uses minute amounts of data unless you are sending videos/pictures usually a couple bytes to a few kilobytes for text only with emojis.

SpiffyCat wrote:

Thanks for that info, but my main goal is to avoid any charges coming from accidentally using cellular service. Is there anything I should turn off when I leave the US? Or anything I should avoid using regarding texting?

Not really, unless you are in one of the small number of countries where outgoing messages are charged, there's really nothing you can do to get charged. The big surprises can come from making calls to non-US numbers when on WiFi. In this case, the call is routed from the US as an international call and T-Mobile's international rack rates are absurd.

The issue with sending iMessages and MMS is that they use data and data is severely throttled. Folks have gotten in the habit of sending very large MMS (e.g 4 MB pictures). Using the free international data this can be very slow.

One correction - I do have international calling disabled on my account which prevents any possibility that any of my texts are considered phone calls while abroad.

I don’t know the affect disabling international dialing will have on roaming. 

Probably nothing, but since texting still works if I disable cell data, I am being overly cautious since I’ve burned on international phone calls before.