Is iMessage Reducing Your Text Message Usage? [Chart]

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Posted January 3, 2012 at 10:38pm by Shalom Levytam

iMessage is likely reducing your text message usage and could save you money in the process, reports Neven Mrgan. He's posted a chart that shows a drastic reduction in the number of text messages he has sent since the launch of iOS 5.

Three months into iOS 5, I'm using a trivial quantity of text messages. I currently pay $10/month for up to 1000 messages. Assuming these bill at 20c/message (it varies depending on your plan, I'm told) I could cancel my messaging plan and end up paying less overall, even at that outrageous price. I'll wait another two months to confirm this massive drop - then it's time to get all Cancellor Valorum on AT&T's ass.

If any of you have checked your SMS usage since iOS 5, let us know if you're seeing the same results.

[via SAI]

Is iMessage Reducing Your Text Message Usage? [Chart]

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Jacek - January 5, 2012 at 7:08am

Here, in Poland for 100$ i have unlimited plan for SMS + unlimited phone callis. So I sinple reduced smsing to 3 or 5 /m and switched to calling everyone

PReaper - January 4, 2012 at 12:38pm

I'm texting more since iOS 5 and still it says that I'm sending less than before on my bill. iMessage is great!

PReaper - January 4, 2012 at 1:03pm

You choose to reply with a comment that has nothing whatsoever to to with my comment..? That seems really intelligent.. I don't use "WhatsApp" and find simple enough to use the existing messaging app.. Then again, in Sweden we don't even pay a fraction of what you pay for messages in the states.. $100 USD is enough for more than 3000 text messages per month for a year here..

MoJo - January 4, 2012 at 10:50am

I love it. I've been using this to-go plan for years, never spent more than 100/year, serious calls only, never texted. Now I text hundreds a month, for FREE. lol

MrYogi - January 4, 2012 at 6:22am

Lol great thanks apple now AT&T will force a contract where you have to have text messaging in your plan

footballfriend - January 4, 2012 at 5:29am

This graph is just another proof of the great number of people that own iOS5 devices. Looks like only 3% own a device that isn't.

budsal - January 4, 2012 at 5:38pm

this graph doesn't speak to how many people use ios5 devices. It lets us know that this person is mainly texting people with ios5 devices.

omran - January 4, 2012 at 4:02am

if imessege was a reason then whatsapp and all other text app was bigger and earlier reasons than poor ans slow imessege

Notion - January 4, 2012 at 2:40am

It's cool but only a few people have it that I know.

Blackapino - January 4, 2012 at 2:34am

I think it's cool. But I have unlimited MMS & SMS, so either way I still save money cause I get a discount on my phone Bill. But yeah I LOVE iMessage.

Blackapino - January 4, 2012 at 2:32am

Ok 1. BBM was first. 2. For people who didn't or LIKE BB could care less cause most didn't & STILL don't know what BBM is don't care & text either way. 3. I wonder how the cellular would would b if there no IPhone.

budsal - January 4, 2012 at 5:35pm

ok, I'll bite. What's bbm? I had a bbm this morning but I'm sure that doesn't apply.

Anonymous - January 4, 2012 at 1:57am

Notice they don't say anything about data usage. Since iMessage uses data your 2 gigs a month is slowly going down the drain with iMessage.

Thunderbyte - January 4, 2012 at 3:03am

Maybe after MILLIONS of iMessages, which are mostly simple text.

KilPrity - January 4, 2012 at 1:56am

iMessage is awesome I reduced my text plan to 200 text per month since iMessage was announced! I only sent 36 text this month. And I text all the time! It really depends on who your texting and what devices there using. Mostly everyone I know uses an iProduct

Koushik - January 4, 2012 at 1:45am

What is this iMessage how wil it help me to reduce the SMS cost

Junaid - January 4, 2012 at 1:54am

It sends free text from ios 5 device to same ios 5 device, like a messenger, it uses wifi or 3G.

Tunin - January 4, 2012 at 12:19am

I've been using WhatsApp for a few years now and ever since texting with my family/friends cross platforms I've reduced my sms(texts) by 80%...

Thunderbyte - January 4, 2012 at 3:59am

Indeed, also for me, WhatsApp has reduced the costs of Sms more than iMessage. And WhatsApp is multiplatform, so I can also communicate with my Android friends for free.

Tunin - January 4, 2012 at 11:27am

That's right, I even got it installed on my ipad. I have friends using it on android and symbian. Even viber has integrated texts, locaation sharing, image sharing... I do not know what isthe big deal about imessage?

Guest - January 3, 2012 at 11:23pm

Who sends/receives only 1000 text messages a month???

FadetoBlack - January 3, 2012 at 11:31pm

If you spend most of your day texting other people.. then wouldn't you be the one without a life?

Guest - January 4, 2012 at 12:25am

Really? 250 texts a week seem obsessive to you? Specially nowadays where texts are used more than voice? And that's without including the incoming messages.

Martin - January 3, 2012 at 11:23pm

is it me or nobody sees that this sounds like an ad for IOS5!!!!!! ..... omg since i have IOS5 i save so much money in sms!!!!!!!! geee so obvious.....where are we going with this!!!!É

blackhaT - January 3, 2012 at 11:39pm

The author is stating a fact that he has less SMS charges that someone else may have not realized also applies to them. By offering such information, the reader can judge a more cost effective alternative to an SMS plan...

Huh? - January 4, 2012 at 12:29am

I don't care about Apple or jailbreakers...what is good should be said without bias. iMessage is cool and undoubtedly will save 50% of your text messages. It's a copy of bbm, but who cares...apple doesn't invent stuff, it makes the best version of any concept...

gringo - January 4, 2012 at 12:36am

iMessage is pretty late in the game. I've been using WhatsApp for years now and my SMS usage has been just a few each month. iMessage still requires both user to be on iOS5, which is not always the case. However, I welcome everyone that provides an opportunity to get rid of exorbitant AT&T text charges.