Should multimedia messages be cheaper?

big brother 9 · 08-08-2016, 19:05

With the increase in message services like WhatsApp, messenger, snapchat etc..... sending a pic within a text message should be much cheaper than it currently is.

Why would people want to send a pic or video via text when they can send the other ways.

d123 · 08-08-2016, 19:33

What's a multimedia message again?

moox · 08-08-2016, 19:49

I think some networks still have video calling on the tariffs, and it's still 50p a minute.

That's not Facetime or Hangouts or Skype or whatever, but bog standard 3G video calling from 2003. You can't even do that on a modern phone.

Thine Wonk · 08-08-2016, 19:51

Yes, obviously the networks try and make the contracts and PAYG minute and text rates look the best in store and on the website as that's what everyone looks at when buying. Nobody checks the MMS or 0870 rates, and they know that so they milk them.

However with apps like What'sapp they are dying out anyway.

david16 · 10-08-2016, 15:55

MMS's ought to be a lot cheaper than they are but not at the low rate of a standard text (or SMS).

Adding in even one emoji to your message on your messaging app you are going to send off does not still make it a text message. It becomes an MMS with that one little emoji in your message even if you may think of it as being a text message/SMS.

Is it really worth adding in the emoji to your message if it means you are going to be fleeced for it.

blueisthecolour · 10-08-2016, 16:26

The mobile phone companies aren't going to kill of revenue streams for the sake of it.

d123 · 10-08-2016, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by david16

MMS's ought to be a lot cheaper than they are but not at the low rate of a standard text (or SMS).

Adding in even one emoji to your message on your messaging app you are going to send off does not still make it a text message. It becomes an MMS with that one little emoji in your message even if you may think of it as being a text message/SMS.

Is it really worth adding in the emoji to your message if it means you are going to be fleeced for it.

Only if your phone (was mainly a Samsung problem iirc) converts the emoticon into a picture message or you're using some badly programmed 3rd party keyboard.

For example:

Quote:

There has been some increased interest around emojis/emoticons on the EE network. Here's some information to help you understand how emojis in text messages work.

If you have an older phone, if you've downloaded a new keyboard app, or if the settings on your phone are set up in a certain way, your phone may convert an SMS that has an emoji in it to a picture message, which may not be included in your plan.

This isn't something that EE or any network controls, as it's down to how your device works, but it's straight forward for you to change this, for example on some Samsung devices it's as easy as changing the input mode from Automatic to Unicode.

For advice on how to manage the settings on your device, follow the steps on - The EE Help Page on converting text messages to picture messages.

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Textin...ns/td-p/401281

Quote:

Mobile phone users who send a smiley or sad face, or any type of picture icon, in a text could be stung with massive charges – with one user billed more than £200 as a result of using these emojis.

Our research found the main issue is with pre-April 2014 Samsung handsets where users have racked up huge bills after adding emojis – picture icons such as

rather than the emoticon equivalent of

– into text messages, despite having packages with all-inclusive text allowances (see our Mobile phone cost cutting guide for more ways to save).
This is known to affect the Samsung Galaxy S1, S2, S3, S4, plus the Galaxy Note 1, 2, 3 and Galaxy Ace. On these handsets, when an emoji is added to a text message it is automatically converted into a picture message. These aren't usually included in users' packages and can cost up to 40p each depending on the network provider.

Samsung says every device launched since last April has a default setting which means emojis can be sent in a text, however it adds that a warning message is displayed to inform users of older handsets that their message will be converted.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/new...sending-emojis

gillyallan · 10-08-2016, 17:22

Video calling is charged at normal time on o2 and included in your normal bundle minutes.

Mms though is a joke. Surely only catching folk out by accident.

david16 · 11-08-2016, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillyallan

Video calling is charged at normal time on o2 and included in your normal bundle minutes.

Mms though is a joke. Surely only catching folk out by accident.

Just don't add a smilie/emoji to your message before you send it off.

Only a fool would think they are still sending a text message even when it includes a few emojis in their message.

sethpet · 11-08-2016, 20:10

If the other networks caught up with Vodafone we would have cross network RCS and no need for over the top services like WhatsApp, Messenger etc.

Amazes me that only Vodafone have enabled RCS, the networks should have all got behind it and killed the over the top clients before they started.

Gigabit · 11-08-2016, 20:26

You do have to have a phone running Vodafone firmware though.

sethpet · 11-08-2016, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigabit

You do have to have a phone running Vodafone firmware though.

Not true.

My wife's open market Z5 and my open market lumia 950 work fine

gillyallan · 11-08-2016, 21:41

Phones should have ability to block mms sends. Mine gives a warning if it converts to mms but is easy to miss

ozz · 11-08-2016, 22:25

On an iPhone there is a toggle switch to turn off mms messages. I've sent loads of emoji texts and never had one fail to send or be charged for.

On android I've just deleted the mms server details in the apn settings

d123 · 11-08-2016, 22:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by david16

Just don't add a smilie/emoji to your message before you send it off.

Only a fool would think they are still sending a text message even when it includes a few emojis in their message.

Would it be ok to call a person a fool when they keep on spouting nonsense when it's been shown that the emoji sending as an MMS isn't a widespread or universal problem but something that only happened with a small number of phones and aftermarket keyboards?

plymouthbloke1974 · 11-08-2016, 22:53

If anything the cost of MMS is going up. Voda just put their charges up...

08-08-2016, 19:05	#1
big brother 9 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 15,030	Should multimedia messages be cheaper? With the increase in message services like WhatsApp, messenger, snapchat etc..... sending a pic within a text message should be much cheaper than it currently is. Why would people want to send a pic or video via text when they can send the other ways.

08-08-2016, 19:33	#2
d123 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,993	What's a multimedia message again?

08-08-2016, 19:49	#3
moox Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 14,645	I think some networks still have video calling on the tariffs, and it's still 50p a minute. That's not Facetime or Hangouts or Skype or whatever, but bog standard 3G video calling from 2003. You can't even do that on a modern phone.

08-08-2016, 19:51	#4
Thine Wonk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 14,577	Yes, obviously the networks try and make the contracts and PAYG minute and text rates look the best in store and on the website as that's what everyone looks at when buying. Nobody checks the MMS or 0870 rates, and they know that so they milk them. However with apps like What'sapp they are dying out anyway.

10-08-2016, 15:55	#5
david16 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Central Belt Posts: 12,290	MMS's ought to be a lot cheaper than they are but not at the low rate of a standard text (or SMS). Adding in even one emoji to your message on your messaging app you are going to send off does not still make it a text message. It becomes an MMS with that one little emoji in your message even if you may think of it as being a text message/SMS. Is it really worth adding in the emoji to your message if it means you are going to be fleeced for it.

10-08-2016, 16:26	#6
blueisthecolour Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: South Posts: 10,858	The mobile phone companies aren't going to kill of revenue streams for the sake of it.

10-08-2016, 16:58	#7
d123 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,993	Quote: Originally Posted by david16 MMS's ought to be a lot cheaper than they are but not at the low rate of a standard text (or SMS). Adding in even one emoji to your message on your messaging app you are going to send off does not still make it a text message. It becomes an MMS with that one little emoji in your message even if you may think of it as being a text message/SMS. Is it really worth adding in the emoji to your message if it means you are going to be fleeced for it. Only if your phone (was mainly a Samsung problem iirc) converts the emoticon into a picture message or you're using some badly programmed 3rd party keyboard. For example: Quote: There has been some increased interest around emojis/emoticons on the EE network. Here's some information to help you understand how emojis in text messages work. If you have an older phone, if you've downloaded a new keyboard app, or if the settings on your phone are set up in a certain way, your phone may convert an SMS that has an emoji in it to a picture message, which may not be included in your plan. This isn't something that EE or any network controls, as it's down to how your device works, but it's straight forward for you to change this, for example on some Samsung devices it's as easy as changing the input mode from Automatic to Unicode. For advice on how to manage the settings on your device, follow the steps on - The EE Help Page on converting text messages to picture messages. https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Textin...ns/td-p/401281 Quote: Mobile phone users who send a smiley or sad face, or any type of picture icon, in a text could be stung with massive charges – with one user billed more than £200 as a result of using these emojis. Our research found the main issue is with pre-April 2014 Samsung handsets where users have racked up huge bills after adding emojis – picture icons such as rather than the emoticon equivalent of – into text messages, despite having packages with all-inclusive text allowances (see our Mobile phone cost cutting guide for more ways to save). This is known to affect the Samsung Galaxy S1, S2, S3, S4, plus the Galaxy Note 1, 2, 3 and Galaxy Ace. On these handsets, when an emoji is added to a text message it is automatically converted into a picture message. These aren't usually included in users' packages and can cost up to 40p each depending on the network provider. Samsung says every device launched since last April has a default setting which means emojis can be sent in a text, however it adds that a warning message is displayed to inform users of older handsets that their message will be converted. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/new...sending-emojis

10-08-2016, 17:22	#8
gillyallan Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 29,115	Video calling is charged at normal time on o2 and included in your normal bundle minutes. Mms though is a joke. Surely only catching folk out by accident.

11-08-2016, 19:48	#9
david16 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Central Belt Posts: 12,290	Quote: Originally Posted by gillyallan Video calling is charged at normal time on o2 and included in your normal bundle minutes. Mms though is a joke. Surely only catching folk out by accident. Just don't add a smilie/emoji to your message before you send it off. Only a fool would think they are still sending a text message even when it includes a few emojis in their message.

11-08-2016, 20:10	#10
sethpet Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 494	If the other networks caught up with Vodafone we would have cross network RCS and no need for over the top services like WhatsApp, Messenger etc. Amazes me that only Vodafone have enabled RCS, the networks should have all got behind it and killed the over the top clients before they started.

11-08-2016, 20:26	#11
Gigabit Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,887	You do have to have a phone running Vodafone firmware though.

11-08-2016, 20:31	#12
sethpet Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 494	Quote: Originally Posted by Gigabit You do have to have a phone running Vodafone firmware though. Not true. My wife's open market Z5 and my open market lumia 950 work fine

11-08-2016, 21:41	#13
gillyallan Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 29,115	Phones should have ability to block mms sends. Mine gives a warning if it converts to mms but is easy to miss

11-08-2016, 22:25	#14
ozz Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rutland Posts: 564	On an iPhone there is a toggle switch to turn off mms messages. I've sent loads of emoji texts and never had one fail to send or be charged for. On android I've just deleted the mms server details in the apn settings

11-08-2016, 22:45	#15
d123 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,993	Quote: Originally Posted by david16 Just don't add a smilie/emoji to your message before you send it off. Only a fool would think they are still sending a text message even when it includes a few emojis in their message. Would it be ok to call a person a fool when they keep on spouting nonsense when it's been shown that the emoji sending as an MMS isn't a widespread or universal problem but something that only happened with a small number of phones and aftermarket keyboards?

11-08-2016, 22:53	#16
plymouthbloke1974 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Destination: Hard Brexit Posts: 6,368	If anything the cost of MMS is going up. Voda just put their charges up...

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Should multimedia messages be cheaper?