Text with multiple recipients automatically converts to multimedia

[xteep]

When I respond to a text that was sent with multiple recipients, my phone converts my text to a multimedia message. I asked Samsung about this and they said the carriers automatically convert messages over a certain number of characters to multimedia. This has happened to me with short messages. The Samsung rep couldn't tell me the character limit for Verizon. I'm not sure her answer makes sense in light of the fact that it happens with short messages, and only messages with multiple recipients. Does anybody have any experience with this?

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello xteep,

Text messaging is my favorite method of communication. It's super easy and convenient. If you love text messaging as much as I do then I can certainly understand your concern for group messaging. It will be my pleasure to assist with your text messages. Text messages have a maximum character count of 160 characters. If the message is more than 160 character then either it's sent as 2 separate messages or as a multimedia message. This depends on the make and model device of course. May I ask ae you having issues with your texts? If so then please share as I'm eager to assist.

Thank you...

ArnettH_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[xteep]

Yes. I am having issues with texts.

As I said above, short messages are being converted to multimedia messages. As an example, I replied "K" to my son's message "ready" today and my phone converted my response to multimedia. That obviously does not exceed the 160 character limit. The other day, I tried to send another very short message (in other words, fewer than 160 characters) and the phone tried to convert it to multimedia. This is not consistent with what you described above.

Also, when I respond to a multi-recipient message the phone converts my response, even if very short, to multimedia.

My phone is a Samsung Brightside. I have unlimited text service. The Samsung representative I chatted with could not answer my questions and said those were carrier issues.

Do you have explanations for the above, or a solution? Thanks.

[jkblack]

We have two Samsung Brightsides in our family and they both have the same problem.  Every text message, no matter how long, with multiple recipients is sent as a multimedia message.

[tikibar1]

That's by design ... texts with multiple recipients are multimedia messages:

Picture and Video Messaging FAQs | Verizon Wireless

[xteep]

Thank you. That is more helpful than the responses from Samsung and Verizon. I see in FAQ 1 that multimedia messaging allows you to send to multiple recipients, although it does not say directly that texts with multiple recipients are automatically multimedia messages. 

I have also had unusual experiences with text messages being converted to multimedia when they are going to one recipient and are very short. This is not consistent with anything in the FAQs or any responses from Verizon or Samsung; I guess I will chalk it up to abnormal phone behavior.

[jkblack]

There must be more to it than what's in the FAQ.  My Samsung Brightsides both send texts with multiple recipients as "picture messages".  My Samsung Intensity II and Pantec Jest do not: text messages to multiple recipients are sent as text.  Receiving messages on the Intensity II and the Jest is a lot faster than on the newer phones.

[Jax_Omen]

If you have unlimited messaging, why do you care if they're sent as MMS or SMS?

[SuzyQ]

xteep wrote:

...  I have also had unusual experiences with text messages being converted to multimedia when they are going to one recipient and are very short. This is not consistent with anything in the FAQs or any responses from Verizon or Samsung; I guess I will chalk it up to abnormal phone behavior.

Some things that may cause a message to be considered "multimedia" -

• Attaching a signature
• Special formatting (italics, special font, colors)
• Smilies or other emoticons
• Using a third party texting app that allows or adds any of the above features

[xteep]

What an interesting question. A friend with a new Brightside was having the same experience and asked me if I knew why her phone was doing this. I could not answer her question so I asked Samsung and Verizon for information. I became more curious when the answers from Samsung and Verizon were inconsistent with what I was experiencing.