Why do I need Cellular Data turned on to send/receive MMS?

So after over 3 hours on the phone with Verizon, Apple, then Verizon again trying to figure out why I can't send or receive mms messages unless Cellular Data is on, doing a hundred soft/hard/network/every reset imaginable, a Verizon rep this morning told me "you cannot use mms unless the cellular data is switched to "on", and there are NO PHONES that will allow you to send mms without it on".
Ok, so how come when I had flip phones that didn't even have data plans, I was able to send MMS? And the biggest question - how come I never ever turned my 3G on on my droid and yet could still send SMS? Why does the iPhone force me to keep cellular data on, eating away at my 150mb data plan that I can barely even afford and would rather only have wifi on?

Look here, from Apple:
The following table shows the requirements and capabilities of Messages on iOS.
Device Required
iOS Required
Connectivity Required
Recipient Types Allowed
Content Types Allowed
SMS
iPhone
1.0 and later
Cellular
Phone number
Text only
MMS
iPhone 3G and later
3.1 and later
Cellular data
Phone number
Text, audio1, photos, and video
iMessage
iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
5.0 and later
Cellular data or Wi-Fi
Phone number or email address
Text, audio1, photos, and video
See what it says about MMS? That answer your question.

Similar Messages

Ios7- why do i need cellular data on?

Can someone please explain to me why I need Cellular Data ON for any apps on my iPhone 4? It seems to me that I can use all my apps with it off.
Thanks!

It's a smart phone... it's designed to be constantly connected to the Internet. If you turn off cellular data, and you're not actively connected to a WiFi network, then you have no data connection...
No e-mail, no web browsing, no MMS messaging, no iMessage, no new in your news apps, no weather in your weather apps, not chatting with your friends in your IM apps... should I go on?

IOS 8x - no voicemail without cellular data turned on - BOOOOO!

Since updating my iPhone 5s to iOS 8x, I don't see a VM indicator or receive voicemail unless I have cellular data turned on. Under iOS 7x, I got an indicator and could retrieve VM the old-fashioned way. I really don't care to leave cellular data turned on, and can take or leave Visual Voicemail.
This needs to be fixed, either on the VZW side, the Apple side, or BOTH. It's ridiculous to expect a customer to leave cellular data turned on just to receive voicemail. Any 5+-year-old "feature phone" will give you basic VM - smart phones should be able to do the same!

I know voicemails are very important to get on time, BlueDressDevil. By design, Apple's visual voice mail is a part of every iPhone. You still have the option to check your voicemail by dialing *86 if you'd prefer. But if your mobile data is off and Apple's visual voice mail can't connect to the network it will not be able to provide the notification.
JenniferH_VZW
Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/vzwsupport

Why do i have to have my cellular data turned on to recieve or send TEXT messages?

my girlfriend and i have noticed this most recently.
To send or recieve TEXT messages (not MMS) on our iPhone 5's we have to have our *cellular data* turned on. OMG why? It's supposed to not use cellular data for texting (or callling) so why do we have to have it switched on for TEXT messages (SMS)? Does that mean that texting is now going to eat our data plans? If so, we'd of been better off with our old cell phones.

no- i think you've hit the nail on the head. (perhaps inadvertantly)
because my g/f and i couldnt get each other's txts, over 3/4 of the time, if the cellular data wasnt turned on.
green bubble = sms.
blue bubble=imessage (data or wifi)
all this was with (blue bubble) imessage stuff (with the thought that it'd use wifi, but the wifi at work *****, so ofcourse it'll use data.
Hmmn. I'm going to shut off iMessage and see if that takes care of the issue.

Cellular Data turned off, Data Roaming greyed out and shows as on

I've googled the **** out of this and still can't find the answer so here goes.
If I have both Cellular Data and Data Roaming ON and then turn Cellular Data OFF then the Data Roaming label and ON/OFF toggle both turn grey and light blue respectively, but the Data Roaming still shows as ON (in light blue not the regular blue colour). Does this mean that Data Roaming is actually still on? If not, then why doesn't it show as OFF or are we supposed to interpret the fact that it is greyed out to mean that it is actually off when it shows ON?

You're welcome.
I don't see what difference it makes. Cellular Data off means cellular data is off. Someone who is roaming internationally with Data Roaming turned on wants data turned off completely for a period of time can turn Cellular Data off without turning Data Roaming off. When turning Cellular Data back on, Data Roaming is already on.
An iPhone can exchange SMS for certain with Cellular Data turned off, but I don't believe the same applies to MMS.
Having 3G network access on or off has 3G network access on or off only. The same amount of data will be exchanged with 3G access off only at a slower rate. If you download the same photo via a fast broadband connection vs via a much slower old dial-up connection, the same amount of data will be downloaded only slower via the dial-up connection.

I have had my IPAD2 for quite a while but haven't activated my cellular data for about a year. I am now trying to activate and when I go to cellular data, turn it on and try to tap view account i just get a message that says "connection to server lost".

I have had my IPAD2 for quite a while but haven't activated my cellular data for about a year. I am now trying to activate and when I go to cellular data, turn it on and try to tap view account i just get a message that says "connection to server lost". I could swear the last time I used cellular data you would see the signal in the upper left corner and I only see "no service" there, I am in a location where I know I should have service. Is there something I should do to my IPAD? I tried resetting, I tried clearing cookies and history in Safari (after reading a post n these discussions). I don't know what to do next. My IOS version is 6.1.3. I did go into Network from the general tab and I see it says "SIM not provisioned". HELP and Thank you in advance.

Hello Theresa818,
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities!
It sounds like the cellular data will not activate for some reason on the iPad.
I found this article that will help you resolve this issue here, named iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular Models): Troubleshooting a cellular data connection, found here http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4249
Check for a carrier settings update.
Update your iPad.
Toggle the Cellular Data setting off and on under Settings > Cellular Data.
Restart your iPad.
Tap Settings > General > About. Locate the Carrier entry and make sure that your carrier is correct.
If your SIM card has SIM PIN enabled, try turning it off: Tap Settings > Cellular Data > SIM PIN.
Make sure you're in an area of good coverage. If the cellular data connection works in another area, contact your carrier to report the original affected area.
Reset network settings: Tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
Restore the iPad as new.
If none of the above steps resolves the issue, make an appointment at an Apple Retail Store, contact your carrier, or contact AppleCare to troubleshoot further.
I know you may have done one or two of the steps here, so you can skip those.
Take care,
Sterling

Why do you need cellular capabilities on the Ipad?

Why do you need cellular capabilities on the Ipad? Is this only necessary if you intend to use it as a phone? Is it necessary to have if you want to Skype?

I normally like to buy from the Store. You can check it on the spot for defects.
The following apps can open/edit/save MS Documents
http://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/quickoffice-pro-hd-edit-office/id376212724?mt=8&l s=1
http://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/office2-hd/id364361728?mt=8&ls=1
http://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/documents-to-go-premium-office/id317107309?mt=8&l s=1
http://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/polaris-office/id513188658?mt=8&ls=1

HT4623 Why I cannot activate cellular data network after updating to iOS 6.0?

Why I cannot activate cellular data network after updating to iOS 6.0?

ok have a new Ipad a few weeks did this update and now poof nothing . have wifi but no Cellular Data seems its all ben wiped out, sat for over 1h came home after update and nothing but says i have full digicel signal in the top courner have looked on net for help nothing has woked and digicel not open now here till monday.lets hope they sort this one soon. anyone else missing info in iPad: Tap Settings > Cellular Data ??????
thanks

IPAD Why I cannot activate cellular data network after updating to iOS 6.0?

Why I cannot activate cellular data network after updating to iOS 6.0? in fact all info in cellular has been wiped out ???? empty??? and why is it showing full signal in the top ???? any one got any help out there PLEASE ????

ok have a new Ipad a few weeks did this update and now poof nothing . have wifi but no Cellular Data seems its all ben wiped out, sat for over 1h came home after update and nothing but says i have full digicel signal in the top courner have looked on net for help nothing has woked and digicel not open now here till monday.lets hope they sort this one soon. anyone else missing info in iPad: Tap Settings > Cellular Data ??????
thanks

My wife lost her iPhone. I have it signed up with find my phone but it appears that it isn't online. Maybe that is because I have cellular data turned off. What can I do?

My wife lost her iPhone. I have it signed up with find my phone but it appears that it isn't online. Maybe that is because I have cellular data turned off. What can I do?

What To Do If Your iDevice or Computer Is Lost Or Stolen
If your Mac, iPhone, iPod, iPod Touch, or iPad is lost or stolen what do you do? There are things you should do in advance - before you lose it or it's stolen - and some things to do after the fact. Here are some suggestions:
Reporting a lost or stolen Apple product
What-To-Do-When-Iphone-Is-Stolen
Lost or Stolen iPhone? Here’s What to do.
6 Ways to Track and Recover Your Lost/Stolen iPhone
It pays to be proactive by following the advice on using Find My Phone before you lose your device:
Find My iPhone
Setup your iDevice on MobileMe
OS X Lion- About Find My Mac
How To Set Up Free Find Your iPhone (Even on Unsupported Devices)
There is nothing you can do after the fact. If the device is attached to the Internet then it can be tracked. It makes no difference if it's WiFi or Cellular.

With cellular data off will I still receive voice calls on my iPhone 4s

WIth cellular data off will I still receive voice calls on my 4s?

Yes, cellular data is another way of saying internet access over the cellular network...separate function from cellular voice service.

My ISP tells me I need to I need to change the port to send/receive e-mails, but I can't remember my Mail password to add an account. How can I proceed without the password?

My ISP tells me I need to change the port to send/receive mail, as the current port is going to be disabled for security reasons. But I can't remember my Mail password to add an account. How can I add an account when I don't remember my password? It's been several years.

your email password is with your ISP so they can help. but if it is saved in the email app you can just change the ports in the preferneces without a password.

Why Does the iPhone not send/receive MMS?

Why Does the iPhone not send/receive MMS? this in the works?

"Why Does the iPhone not send/receive MMS?"
Apple chose not to offer this as a feature of iphone. E-mail can accomplish the same thing.
"is in the works?"
This has been asked and answered countless times. The forum search bar is on the right side of this page.
Apple has announced that MMS will be included in the 3.0 software due out this summer. Before you ask, all that has been announced is in this link:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/preview-iphone-os/
Apples developer conference begins tomorrow.

Why does my phone use data with cellular data turned off?

I have problems with my iPhone 5 using data on its own. It usually happens at night, with all the apps closed and plugged in to charge (should be connected to my wifi). Recently, I started turning off my cellular data any time I'm at home out of desperation to save my data. Last night, my phone used 6MB of data with my data off, plugged in. I use My Data Manager to track, it matches up with AT&T's record of my data usage, so I'm pretty sure the app is not wrong. I have the 200MB plan, so I have to be very careful and it's incredibly frustrating to wake up and find 6MB gone when cellular data was turned off. Does anyone know what's going on? I haven't bothered calling Apple or AT&T, I never get anywhere with either one.

I'm not familiar with My Data Manager but from the name I would think it would tell you what app or apps have used the data and that might help narrow down the problem. If it doesn't have that information, you can go to Settings > Cellular > Use Cellular Data For and that shows usage by each app and if you click on System Services in that list it will also give details of that usage. The numbers are since you last reset the statistics (bottom of that screen). With a little time and detective work you may be able to identify the cause.
Also, there have been many discussions on various internet forums of AT&T (and other) reporting of the time of data usage not matching the actual time of the use. The usage numbers over a number of days for example are accurate but usage reported at 2AM may actually be a summary of some types of use that happened the previous day.

TS2755 Why can't I text without having iMessage on AND either wifi or CELLULAR DATA turned on? iPhone 5 VZ wireless

I just went apple Friday!! However, my "unlimited text and phone" isn't quite so with Verizon Wireless....my carrier for many years. I have found that since impart of the iMessage community, I no longer can technically "text" or at least I can't RECEIVE TEXT replies from people. It's like they are losing the messages hostage til I either turn ON the NOT Unlimited Cellular Data, or I sign to wifi. What the heck???? I'm hoping I've missed something and i did NOT just get scammed. Any thoughts?

call verizon. texting is a service they provide

Why do I need Cellular Data turned on to send/receive MMS?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for