Instant Messaging & text messaging?

Does instant messaging work the same way as text messaging as far as being
charged for it (per message if we don't have a plan)? I was wondering what
the benefit is to use instant messaging if we still get charged the same
way. Thanks

"S." <someone@nospam.com> wrote:

>Does instant messaging work the same way as text messaging as far as being
>charged for it (per message if we don't have a plan)? I was wondering what
>the benefit is to use instant messaging if we still get charged the same
>way. Thanks
>
Yes - you are charged per message sent and received. The advantage of
using, say, a phone with an AIM client is the ability to reach folks
who are not using SMS on phones - but rather are at their PCs with Aol
Instant Messenger. If you are going to make much use of it, choose one
of the data plans.

The instant messaging works on the Internet (media net) and not on the
text messaging. While you will be charged for messaging it won't be
the $.10 per text message rather the $.01 per kb of data used. For
point of reference it would take about 40 IM chats to equal 1 MB of
data which would equal about $10. This is just an estimate and will
vary by the size of IM chat.

actully with cingular, built in aim or any im java app (like the free java im they offer that works with aim, yahoo and icq, uses sms and no data. The phone will give you a data used message but it is also billed as a text depending on size. You might want to check cingular.com in the IM section, it's all there.


What is the cost for Instant Messaging?
You are charged $0.10 for each message you send and receive unless you are on a Text/Instant Messaging package or a MEdia bundle.

http://www.cingular.com/media/instant_faqs#purchasing