International text

[april27]

I was recently in America & before I left U.K. turned off mobile data & roaming, only used WiFi whilst there.  I sent a text on Christmas Day to someone who I realised afterwards was not on iMessage but assumed it would not be delivered until I was back.  Instead the text was delivered and I have been charged £6, how is this possible if all mobile data was off? I did see AT&T carrier on my phone but as I wasn’t connected assumed it didn’t work? When out of WiFi I didn’t receive messages or data updates.  Any help appreciated as I tried the Vodafone help message service but they couldn’t explain why. 

[AnnS]

Hi @april27

You turned off data roaming and mobile data, you still had your phone turned on and were connected to the roaming network. 

When you sent the text, you would have activated the daily £6.00 roam further charge. 

[jeffkinn]

Text messages don't use mobile data - they are part of the GSM service. That's why people were able to sent text messages before smart phones and GPRS came along.

If your phone had been in airplane mode with just wifi turned on that wouldn't have happened.

[april27]

ah, I see.  Thanks!