topic Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials? in Mobile Services

Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

Alan1206 — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 05:58:44 GMT

Been sending sms messages adding emoji to them.. Been charged 83p for each emoji. Is this right. No other network charges for emoji via sms

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

XRaySpeX — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 06:25:30 GMT

That's correct, @Alan1206 ! By placing emojis in your texts your phone coverts them from SMS to MMS (Picture Msgs) for which you are charged 83p each MMS. Your phone should warn you it is doing this before you hit Send.

Most, if not all, networks charge you for MMS. O2 certainly does!

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

bristolian — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 08:10:17 GMT

When you insert content into a text message that your phone can't submit as SMS, you should get an onscreen warning of this, and the message is converted into MMS. In this way, it's a phone feature not a network one - and Android at least, let's you use the unicode character set that is a lot better at handling emojis as text.

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

Northerner — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 12:38:55 GMT

Hi @Alan1206

You can buy an add-on if you send these types of message via EE SMS network.

Thanks

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

WhatonEarth20 — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 08:38:49 GMT

I have noticed the same....it is like going back to the 1990's!!!!! I will be leaving this network as soon as I can. I have 2 sons on a Sky mobile account costing £10 a month with no extra charges anytime and I think they text more than me! What on earth is going on?

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

bristolian — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 09:30:48 GMT

@WhatonEarth20 wrote:

I have noticed the same...

In which case the answer is the same. Sky Mobile charge extra for MMS exactly the same as EE do. Your son's phones are evidently setup differently to yours.

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

WhatonEarth20 — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 09:33:49 GMT

This is awful and dare I say going back towards 1990! We have noticed the same from March onwards. Better tell Apple to stop developing emojis!

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

WhatonEarth20 — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 09:36:48 GMT

Apple iPhone 13 message to Apple iPhone 15 - and charged

What settings should I actually be looking for?

Am I right in saying:
None of our data or unlimited texts cover ANY messages containing a picture or emojis?
What about if we are on wifi?

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

bristolian — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 10:01:53 GMT

@WhatonEarth20 wrote:

None of our data or unlimited texts cover ANY messages containing a picture or emojis?
What about if we are on wifi?

Your text allowance is just that - a text message allowance. As per previous posts in this thread, Android phones give an on-screen notification of "converting to MMS" when non-compatible content is inserted, I assume Apple does similar. My post from 4th March @ 08.10am advises what settings you're looking for.

Your data allowance is for internet-based functions.

If you're connected using the mobile network, internet-based functions will use your data allowance whilst text messages & calls come from your call or text allowance.

If you're connected using WiFi, then calls & text messages use WiFi-calling and are charged in exactly the same way. Any internet-based functions such as apps or Apple-proprietry functions, will use your wireless connection.

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

IanBrowne — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 13:12:17 GMT

Can you clarify things for me. I have just changed for O2 to EE and am on a new EE BB contract which is fine. I used to pay for sending photos on O2 but I have not sought that add on with EE. I notice that at home, the mobile phone connects to the BB and I think this means all calls go through the router which if great as the signal in the house and indeed to town is not great.

If I am using the iPhone on the mobile signal I would expect to pay to send but if i send a photo from the iPhone while connected to my BB service, will I still be charged? The helpful person at the call centre said i could use WhatsApp to send photos and that this would not incur charges. I just need to understand what i can use, what is included in my service and to make sure i adjust my behaviour to avoid unnecessary charges.

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

XRaySpeX — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 13:27:42 GMT

@IanBrowne : Yes, you will be charged by sending MMS (Picture Msgs) using WiFi Calling the same as you would over the mobile network. WiFi Calling is a just means of routing when the mobile signal is weak; it is not a cost-cutter.

However a data-based app like WhatsApp is a diff matter. It just uses data for its messaging & does not involve MMS.

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

IanBrowne — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 14:48:04 GMT

Many thanks for clarifying the matter and sorting my confusion. I now k ow what to do!

Sent from my iPhone

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

XRaySpeX — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:07:22 GMT

@IanBrowne : Thanks! You're welcome 🙂 ! Glad I could be of assistance & trust it is now sorted.

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

Chris_B — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:45:18 GMT

@IanBrowne The only time you’ll not be charged is if you’re are sending an iMessage ( blue text bubble). iMessage is an instant messaging service just like what’s app and uses data.

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

IanBrowne — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 19:09:04 GMT

Many thanks, that is useful to know there are options!

Sent from my iPhone

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

TrainDriver — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 20:24:22 GMT

I wasn't aware anyone still used SMS text anymore..

Everyone I know sends messages via WhatsApp.

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

XRaySpeX — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 21:14:22 GMT

@TrainDriver : They're still widely used by many sites for OTPs, as they should be. Not everybody has a smartphone nor uses WhatsApp. Why bother logging into something just to send a simple msg, like "Where are you?" ?

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

Chris_B — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 22:05:34 GMT

@TrainDriver that’s because everyone you know uses what’s app. Not everyone uses what’s app, I only use it occasionally and not by choice mainly because to own by Meta. Any company that makes money from your data and any interaction you have with their products isn’t a great business, they use your data to make a profit where’s your cut.

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

XRaySpeX — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 23:14:36 GMT

Me too! I only use it for the neighbourhood gossip & that's not family & friends. Hardly a messaging medium for the general population!

@TrainDriver : You are somewhat blinkered! Then I suppose you have to be in your profession 😉 .

Re: Re: Charges for texts with emoji’s, photos on EE essentials?

Louismadz1996 — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 05:13:11 GMT

I find sending a long text over serten leth needs internet and I think u will be charged its stupid