Samsung Galaxy S4 mini converting SMS text messages to MMS after 160 characters

[Anonymous]

I just got a new Samsung Galaxy S4 mini. I have had the S2 for years and so know the product line well. I was getting really frustrated as the phone kept turning SMS text messages to MMS after 160 characters.

I don't know if I changed something in the settings at the start, maybe because I don't like the qwerty keyboard when in portrait mode, but the solution to over ride the 160 character limit (and I took from dannylau via Virgin Media forum) worked instantly:

On your home screen, tap "Messaging".

♦ Open SMS, tap "Menu button"

♦ Tap "Settings"

♦ Scroll down and select  Select "Input Mode"

♦ Make sure it's set to "GSM alphabet" 

[perksie · Accepted solution]

This might help to give you an idea of what's happening:

http://service.o2.co.uk/IQ/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE/,/?St=498,E=0000000008497177947,K=7865,Sxi=8,T=gu...

[Anonymous]

I to have this issue. I have not had the phone for long and do not know its settings well.  But i just queried my bills as although i am on unlimited text messaging (which i believed i had been sending all text no pictures) i have been charged to mms and couldn't understand why. However i have gone thought the suggestion below and i was already set to "gms alphabet" so why would it be happening, and how can i stop my phone from doing it?

i have looked on the internet for other suggestions but nothing seems to be working 😞

[jonsie]

In message settings, scroll down to MMS Alert and tick the box so that the phone alerts you when the sms changes mode to mms.

[Anonymous]

The answer is most likely in your contact list. If you have have linked contacts and they don't all have a mobile number but do have an email address the phone may well send an MMS there instead. Normally you get a choice of SMS to a mobile number or email when things work properly.

[Anonymous]

I would venture to suggest the issue lies in the little yellow emoticons similar to that you used in this thread @Smeek.

On the S3 and S4 (but interestingly no longer on the Note 3 since a recent update" when adding these little yellow emoticons to your text messages they convert to mms and thus you are charged.

[MI5]

There is a little guide here I wrote recently that may help explain a few things http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Other-Products-Services/Accidental-MMS-Sending-and-How-to-Avoid-it/td-p...

[Anonymous]

When you add a new contact with a number and email address the first time you send a message to it with the standard app a box will ask number or email. There is also a set as default box and if you tick it your choice seems set for ever more. I can find no way to change it. So if you picked email all your messages will be converted and sent there. Even "R U Awake ?".

[Anonymous]

Get this on my s5mini as well and online help was useless. They said go to an O2 shop. 

[jonsie]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Get this on my s5mini as well and online help was useless. They said go to an O2 shop. 

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see your other thread....