topic Re: Picture messages in Mobile Services

Picture messages

AnNeil — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:42:00 GMT

I send picture messages all the time which are included in my monthly allowance. This month I have been charged for three picture messages at 83p each I don’t understand what is different about these three messages. Please can someone explain? I am generally on Wi-Fi. How do you know if you’re sending an MMS message rather than a free message included with data?

Re: Picture messages

XRaySpeX — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:45:55 GMT

How do you know that MMS (Picture Msgs) are included in your monthly allowances? They aren't usually unless you buy an add-on for them. EE plan allowances include only call mins, SMS texts & data.

Photo messages Add-ons (monthly recurring):
100 photo messages to UK mobiles: text 100MMS to 150
200 photo messages to UK mobiles: text 200MMS to 150

Your Messaging app should warn you when it's changing an SMS to MMS.

Re: Picture messages

Chris_B — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:18:38 GMT

@AnNeil even connected to WiFi you still have a cellular connection to the network.

Re: Picture messages

AnNeil — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:43:09 GMT

That’s not my question really.

They are not included as far as I know.

What I want to know is how do I know when I’m sending an MMS vs any other picture message? I sent plenty of media pictures but only now am I being charged for an MMS. What is that, that is different from picture media that IS included in my data plan ? How do I make the distinction?

Re: Picture messages

XRaySpeX — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:54:03 GMT

I think you are confusing MMS with using data apps like FB.

You are charged for sending a picture as an MMS using your standard Messaging app.

You are not charged for uploading or publishing a picture using a data app like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube etc. All you are doing is consuming your data allowance.

Re: Picture messages

Peter_W — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:14:17 GMT

Welcome to the Community, @AnNeil

Just to expand on what @XRaySpeX has mentioned, as well as separate services like WhatsApp and iMessage, you can send media over the internet via iMessage on iPhones, or RCS Chat on supported Android devices.

If you're sending to a phone that doesn't support either of these, then it will go as a chargeable MMS message.

Sometimes a message can convert to MMS if you add an unsupported number to a group chat, too.

Peter

Re: Picture messages

AnNeil — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:40:07 GMT

Thanks Peter. Not entirely clear but it helped to some extent.
Is there a way to know if the phone I’m sending to does not support iMessage - because otherwise it is a bit like Russian roulette?

Re: Picture messages

Peter_W — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:55:35 GMT

Thanks @AnNeil

What model of phone are you using?

Peter

Re: Picture messages

Schockwave — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:01:28 GMT

@AnNeil , if you have an IPhone, you can send IMessage or in settings, go to messages and then make sure that RCS is set to on, which will let you know that someone has RCS or IMessage, not sure about other phones, it should not cost you anything if RCS or IMessage shows in the message app when writing or replying to a message.