iMessage is a free and secure messaging app that you can use on your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac laptop.
To send iMessages, you need a data plan, or you can send them over WiFi. If you use WiFi, there's no cost, but if you use your cellphone's data, it's deducted from your data plan. Sending pictures or videos over iMessage can use a lot of data very quickly. iMessage is located in the default messages app on your iPhone.
There is no charge from Apple to use iMessage. You may pay data charges depending on your carrier. You might also want to make sure that "Send as SMS" is turned off for now, so that if the iMessage fails, you are not charged for an international SMS.
Yes, with cellular data turned off iMessage still works whenever you connect to Wi-Fi. You can turn off cellular data by tapping the green button in Control Panel. However, doing so also means you can't make phone calls, send text messages, or use your cellular data.
There is no extra charge for international iMessages. The only caveat is that if the cell data network is used instead of WiFI, some of your data allotment is consumed and you're paying for that.
WiFi calling becomes even more useful when you're traveling internationally. You can use it to call and send text messages to U.S. numbers for free when you're in another country, saving you international long distance charges.
Most iPhone users will want to use iMessages, so long as they have a good plan that can handle the data usage. The only reason to use SMS instead of iMessage is if you're chatting with people who don't have Apple devices, or if you don't have any data on your phone.
Since iMessage was developed by Apple itself, it's a service exclusive to Apple devices such as the iPhone, iMac, iPad, iWatch, etc. Each of these devices have iMessage functionality which allows users to send messages, photos, videos, and other media over Wifi or other cellular data networks.
To use iMessage internationally, you need an active internet connection. This can be achieved through Wi-Fi or cellular data, depending on what's available. Keep in mind that if you're using cellular data, international roaming charges may apply, and data charges can quickly add up.
When connected to Wi-Fi, sending and receiving iMessages is free, regardless of where you are in the world. This makes it an excellent option for travelers who want to avoid unexpected charges. On the other hand, using iMessage with cellular data can incur additional costs, depending on your carrier and data plan.
iMessage sends messages over Wi-Fi or cellular data when Wi-Fi is unavailable, rather than through traditional SMS. This means, if you do not have a data plan and are not connected to Wi-Fi, you will incur pay-per-use data charges when using iMessage.
Since Android and other carriers operate within the SMS and MMS standards of text communication, these green texts are more versatile in who they can reach with their texts. Blue messages, or iMessage messages, are compatible within the Apple ecosystem.
The thread was discussing messages from an iPhone whereby iMessages are free between Apple devices. A message from an iPhone to an android phone would be an inclusive text but a picture message would be chargeable.
The recipient is using a non-Apple device: If you're sending a message to an Android phone, a Windows phone, or any non-Apple device, the message will be sent as an SMS/MMS because iMessage is exclusive to Apple devices.
To make sure iPhone users don't expect iMessage-only features when texting Android users, Apple marks the chat bubbles in blue (“you are texting someone with iMessage”) and green (“you are texting someone without iMessage”).
Android users have access to Google Message, which offers many of the same features as iMessage. Is iMessage better than SMS? iMessage is better than SMS if you own several Apple devices and want to receive your messages on all of them. It is also a more secure messaging service.
Without a data connection or WiFi, iMessage does not work. So, when an iPhone user has to send a text to another iPhone user, he/she can use either iMessage or text messages. But when a message has to be sent to a person using an Android phone, an iPhone user has to use the SMS service.
The number of iMessage users around the world was estimated to be 1.3 billion in 2022. With Apple being such a popular company making devices loved by everyone all over the world, iMessage has always been popular and had many users. In 2021, iMessage reached the 1 billion user milestone.
The Recipient Wasn't Using an Apple Device at the Time
Remember, iMessage only works between Apple devices. So, if your family or friend switches from an iPhone to an Android smartphone, for example, your iMessage will automatically be sent as a text message to them.
SendSMSNow is a widely used, web-based service that offers free international texting across the world. It also provides an online inbox to receive replies. You can register on the website to send and receive messages to over 40 countries without any charges or restrictions.
Customers are only charged for receiving messages overseas if they are outside of the country in which they have their phone contract, i.e. they are 'roaming'.
With iMessage, you can text from anywhere for free, as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection and the person you're messaging also has an iPhone or Mac. If you want to be able to internationally text friends without iPhones for free, you'll need a free texting app.
While each carrier will offer different international roaming rates, you can almost always expect to pay more for consuming data outside the country. These additional fees means that you need to be conscious of how your are being billed while overseas.