Do iPhone to iPhone calls/texts use data?

[DONLEN9]

is it true that iPhone to iPhone calls or texts use data? I heard that its because they use imessage lines. does this make sense?

[vzw_customer_support]

We are more than happy to answer your questions! Are you seeing usage on your account so far may we ask? They should only count as part of your messages usage.

KleoL_VZW

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If my response answered your question please click the "Correct Answer" button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!

[sprmankalel · Accepted solution]

iPhone to iPhone messages are usually iMessage and don't count towards your text message limit. If you have unlimited this does not matter.

iMessage is a great feature packed product from Apple. It allows you to send and receive messages seamlessly across your capable Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, Mac and iPod using Apple's servers. iMessage uses data and will utilize your monthly data allotment. The amount of data used is so minuscule that sending and receiving iMessages should never put you over your limit.There are times when iPhone to iPhone messages don't use iMessage. Those would be when you have the setting Send as SMS turned on and either your phone or the receiving phone has weak or no data connection or one or both phones has the iMessage feature turned off. That should send your message as a regular network text message using the Verizon Wireless network. These message will count towards your monthly messages limit. Doesn't really matter if you have unlimited text which is included in all plans since 2012. Of course, you can also send iMessages over WiFi but I believe you still need a mobile data connection to send pictures and videos.

iPhone to iPhone calls will ALWAYS use the network. Voice calls will be billed against your minute plan. Doesn't really matter if you have unlimited talk which is included in all plans since 2012.

There is a feature called FaceTime which uses Apple's servers. With FaceTime, you can do only audio which is just like a phone call but with better audio quality. This will use data. The amount of data used I couldn't say because I don't use this feature and I have noticed that I am getting HD Audio even with calls to my husband who uses a different carrier. FaceTime is also capable of video calls and if not connected to WiFi will also use data. Video calls will use more data than a FaceTime audio only call. Of course, FaceTime, whether it is audio only or video, can be done over WiFi and won't use any mobile data.

[DONLEN9]

another response from sprmankalel indicated that these calls are treated as an imessage and therefor do use data but minimally. Which is true?

[rcschnoor]

If the bubble around the message is blue, it is not a text but an iMessage and uses data, either wifi or cellular. If the bubble around the message is green, it is a text and does not use data counted against your monthly allowance.

[vzw_customer_support]

Thanks for your help to let DONLEN9 know what to expect, rcschnoor and sprmankalel. There’s a great article from Apple at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207006 that helps describe the difference between an iMessage (sends over data then through Apple) and SMS/MMS (text or picture messages that will travel over cellular services and utilize your plan’s messaging allowance). A small amount of data will be used for iMessages as well as for MMS (picture messages) sent using the cellular network instead of WiFi. When placing a video call to another iOS device using Facetime, data charges will apply based on your data plan. You can find more about Facetime at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204380 .  Also, newer iPhones are capable of placing and receiving calls using data using HD Voice, which is described at https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/hd-voice-for-ios-faqs/ . The phone calls are placed over the LTE network but are included as part of your plan as described in #6 under the basics. A call placed without video will not use data from your plan allowance. Does this help add clarity to your question?   

JenniferH_VZW

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If my response answered your question please click the �Correct Answer� button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!

[sprmankalel]

My response is very detailed.  Please read it and know what the difference is between a call placed over the VZW network and a call placed over FaceTime Audio is. Educating yourself on the features of your phone and how to use them is the best knowledge you can give yourself. If you still need help with seeing it to understand it I would suggest visiting an Apple store where they can answer all of those questions and show you on your phone what it looks like.

[Salisbury]

  Hi DONLEN9, the iPhone has the potential to use up a significant amount of data when texting with iMessages. Because it has the ability to send and relieve video. Video uses huge disc space versus audio and text. The prices that Verizon plans are offering right now and with the roll over data, I have right now, make data not even an issue.

[sprmankalel]

Disk space has nothing to do with how much mobile data the iPhone uses to send and receive a message. Yes, iMessage is a bit of a disadvantage as it does use mobile data from your bucket to send video whereas an MMS through the network doesn't. However, with iMessage you can send longer videos and the impact to your allotment isn't so much that is should put you into overage territory.

[Salisbury]

  Disk space was a term I used that is relevant to the size of a file in computer technology. If audio is recorded and saved, at perhaps 5 minutes in length, it might take up 4 megabytes of disk space or storage. If 5 minutes is used for a video, it will become far larger and very CPU intensive. So when a video is taken with a iPhone and sent with iMessages, it then can use large amounts of data. It's all about the file size being sent. The great advantage of the iPhone and iMessages, is that it has the capability to do this and does.