topic Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging. in Apple Devices

Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

Fatboy71 — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 07:46:46 GMT

Occasionally a friend of mine who lives in the UK, travels overseas (Spain, Turkey usually) and I was wondering now that RCS messaging has been enabled with iOS 18, if sending a text to someone who is overseas will this still incur a charge?

Thanks.

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

Alex_H — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 10:24:10 GMT

Hi @Fatboy71,

There would be no charge for messaging back and forth over RCS as it would just be like any other internet messaging service. However if your friend's number is a UK one, there would be no charge for you sending a SMS text to them anyway. Even though they are overseas its still counts as a UK to UK text if they have a UK number. There is no charge from us for receiving a text message when abroad either.

Texts to a non UK number is what would count as an international text and be chargeable. If you are worried about any outside of allowance charges you can always setup a £0 spend cap as well to block them How Do I Set Up and Manage Spend Cap? | Mobile Help | EE

Alex

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

Fatboy71 — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 19:32:02 GMT

Thanks very much @Alex_H for the help its much appreciated.

When you say "Even though they are overseas its still counts as a UK to UK text if they have a UK number. There is no charge from us for receiving a text message when abroad either"

Does the above apply even if they were staying somewhere outside of Europe as well with regards to there being no charge to me for sending a text message to them over RCS?

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

Chris_B — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:33:36 GMT

@Fatboy71 There is no charge for sending a text to uk number that is abroad anywhere. Provided you have a text allowance, same with iMessage and RCS. Both iMessage and RSC use data not your text allowance. RCS is basically a data messaging service like iMessage/what’s app.

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

Fatboy71 — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:40:57 GMT

Thanks very much for the help @Chris_B appreciate it. I never realised RCS used data to send, I was aware iMessage used data, but not RCS. Thanks for providing that useful bit of info.

I have unlimited texts on my sim only plan. Not sure if that makes any difference?

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

Chris_B — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 06:47:58 GMT

@Fatboy71 Even via text you’ll not be charged to send a text to a UK number that is anywhere abroad.

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

Fatboy71 — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 08:10:36 GMT

Thanks for all the help, appreciate it 🙂

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

KingRich — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 13:34:20 GMT

I would like to comment and say you're all wrong. I have been charged 89p to send an RMS message to Mum in the UK, and I live in the UK. I was testing this feature as I'd usually use WhatsApp.

I spoke to an agent and they confirmed this with me. I was also connected to WiFi at the time, too.

so, I informed them that I would be letting others know, so they do not get taken advantage off.

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

Ali_A — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 16:16:51 GMT

Hi @KingRich

RCS messaging is not available if either the sender or recipient doesn't have the service activated. Messages will be sent as SMS / MMS instead.

MMS is a chargeable service. You can find out more at How to send a Photo Message

Ali

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

KingRich — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 17:29:20 GMT

If what you are saying is valid, then explain to me why I was charged 89p instead of 55p, which is the rate of MMS.

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

Ali_A — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 17:33:27 GMT

@KingRich

Which country is your mums mobile network from?

Ali

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

KingRich — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 17:39:07 GMT

We are both in the U.K. I text her in the same room just to test the new RCS message concept and was charged 89p each.

The advisor I spoke with told me RCS is chargeable. Is he untrained? Or, am I being taken advantage off and being lied to?

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

Ali_A — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 17:44:12 GMT

@KingRich

This thread is regarding sending messages to overseas numbers. Just to clarify, is your mum's number originally from a UK network, or is it from an international network but currently being used in the UK?

Ali

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

KingRich — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 18:06:52 GMT

Regardless, if it's a dedicated thread to using RCS to send messages abroad, it's still relevant.

Sending abroad or within the same country ( U.K.), I was charged sending from a U.K. number in the U.K. to a U.K. number. I can only imagine sending abroad would be charged by double or 3x that.

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

Fatboy71 — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 19:46:16 GMT

It sounds like the text you sent, had something in it (picture, GIF, or some Emoji's for example ) that the message app has picked up as an MMS message, as at the point of sending the text, RCS was unavailable for whatever reason, and it has then sent it as an MMS message.

To avoid unwanted sending of MMS messaging, I have the MMS messaging setting switched off in the settings on my iPhone and also I switch off the Show Subject Field as well.

If the message had been sent over RCS, even sending a picture would not have incurred a charge. The only time you would incur a charge for RCS would be if you were paying for data use (but this would be the case if you were using any other app that used data).

You know if the recipient has RCS activated/switched on, if you go to write a text to them. If it shows Text Message RCS. If this is shown you won't incur a MMS message charge if you were to add a picture or something else that would incur a MMS charge if it was getting sent over SMS.

If it shows Text Message SMS, then they have not switched on/activated RCS messaging, and in that instance if you add something to that message (a picture, GIF or some Emoji's for example) then you would incur the MMS charge.

The first screenshot shows that the recipient has RCS activated/switched on:

This second screenshot shows that RCS is not available/is not switched on or activated on the recipient:

Re: Sending a text overseas with RCS messaging.

Ali_A — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 10:12:50 GMT

@KingRich

Checking which country mobile number you were sending the message to was to ascertain the MMS pricing you were referring to was correct.

Currently sending an MMS from UK mobile to UK mobile costs £0.89 each, which matches what you've been billed.
You can see the latest costs for non-standard charges at Price Plans | Mobile

It's worth checking to ensure your mum's phone has RCS messaging also activated fully before trying again.

Ali