Contributor
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2 Messages
What does mobile data mean on my AT&T bill?
What is the mobile/data mean when viewing my text messages under my usage section of my bill.
When i am viewing my text messages on my bill so.etimes there is no number just a date and time and where it usually says mms , it will just day mobile data. Is that a different type of message , i just want to know who texted me on thatt date and time. Just curious as to why there is no number listed. It just says mobile data.
Accepted Solution
Official Solution
ATTHelp
Community Support
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231.4K Messages
8 years ago
Hello @Morganchris !
Welcome to AT&T Community Forums! That is a great question, and I am delighted to be able to help!
The mobile data that you are seeing is just regular data usage. The text and data usage are combined in both categories. A number will show up in the usage details for both text and MMS messages.
For further information regarding usage, check out our AT&T Support Article Track wireless talk, text and data usage.
I hope this helps! Thank you so much and have a wonderful day!
Tim, AT&T Community Specialist
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Accepted Solution
sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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64.7K Messages
6 years ago
@Bizlady7 MMS is ATT’s message system and only works over cellular, not WiFi. It also requires a cellular data connection, so if you have data turned off, MMS won’t work. iMessages are Apple’s system and works over WiFi or cellular. iMessages count as data usage over cellular. MMS needs a data connection but does not count as data usage.
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formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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117.1K Messages
8 years ago
MMS means multi media service. These are texts sent with free data and include pictures, group text and emoji.
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Morganchris
Contributor
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2 Messages
8 years ago
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lcalle
Guru
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629 Messages
8 years ago
@Morganchris
Yes, either that, or if you have an iPhone, those messages were sent via iMessage or a similar service. Those types of messages always show up as data used.
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Kaela1007
Contributor
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1 Message
8 years ago
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Diane22K
Contributor
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2 Messages
7 years ago
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Gary L
ACE - Expert
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16.5K Messages
7 years ago
Data isn't reported immediately. Not live data is reported most often at those times. It could be hours (and occasionally days) old data that's reported.
You turn your devices OFF? So no one can call you on the phone?
If you reset the data counters on those devices, you can see exactly which apps are using the data. (I set an appointment to reset them on the first day of my billing period and just take 60 seconds to see if any apps are eating way more data than I expect.
When your iOS devices are off OFF, when you turn them back on you get the Apple logo on the screen and it takes a minute to power on...
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Nooneishere
Contributor
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2 Messages
6 years ago
"Data isn't reported immediately. Not live data is reported most often at those times. It could be hours (and occasionally days) old data that's reported."
You haven't answered the question. If most of this person's Apple usage is from home on wi-fi, there should be considerably less "mobile data" charged/recorded per month. I don't know about you, but my iPhone automatically switches to wi-fi whenever I am in a location (home, work, etc.) where I have access to the wi-fi. Cellular data or this amorphous thing called "mobile data" shouldn't be needed.
I think the reason this question is so frequently asked is because I've yet to read an even marginally adequate explanation of just what constitutes "mobile data." Mobile data to me suggest cellular use away from wi-fi - on the bus, in a park, sitting in your car - whether you use an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy or Razr. There is no way someone can rack up all that much "mobile data" use on the morning commute.
Also, the explanation that iMessage phone numbers are not recorded in one's data use is nonsense. My family all use iPhones and I have other friends who I know use iPhones and the i Message sent are indeed logged in monthly wireless usage.
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Gary L
ACE - Expert
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16.5K Messages
6 years ago
I'm not sure if this is adequate, but mobile data would be when you are using your phone's cellular data. If you are using WiFi then you are NOT using your cell phone's WiFi. What you are saying sounds correct to me.
Sure there is. If they've got app updates allowed to be cellular, you could rack that up daily. I think I've been getting so many updates of apps on my iPhone lately 10-30 daily, so it all depends on how their settings are; if their favorite podcast is updating at drive time now instead of when there are at the office, it could be anything.
It shouldn't be. Not if you're getting the blue bubbles in your chat.
They answered why data is reported at off hours and why data is reported when the phone is off. They really didn't say much about their use to give more info.
That said, @Diane22K can check in their iPhone settings under cellular and easily see what apps or processes are eating the most data. You want to reset it monthly on your cycle date and then you can track for the month. But even in the meantime, they could easily see the culprit for the most data since the last counter reset and turn off cellular to the most hungry apps.
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