BEWARE - SMS becomes MMS without warning unless you adjust settings

[Anonymous]

Recently got an S4 to replace my beloved S2.  Was surprised to note that I had been charged for 4 text messages as MMS messages.  Discovered the reason - I was silly enough to include a "smiley" chosen from the provided list of options. After wading through Settings I found an option to display a warning when a bog standard SMS is going to be treated as MMS.   Typical O2 underhand dealing in my view.

[Cleoriff]

Yes. Been taking advice about something to suit the eyesight and my fingers (which make constant mistakes

with a small keyboard)

[Anonymous]

I have now set my S4 to warn me when SMS is about to be converted to MMS

However - I recently sent a long sms to 4 people at once. It was converted to MMS and yet there are no emoticons in it - just plain text - but 580 characters long.

So I got a bill of £1.33

I am on contract with unlimited texts.

Anyone any idea what the reasoning is behind this ?

[MI5]

SMS carries a 480 character limit. Anything over becomes an MMS.

[Anonymous]

For clarity - I have set my phone to warn me AFTER this incident.

[Anonymous]

That was quick !

Many thanks

[Anonymous]

If you are using an S4 please also note that there is a new smily icon next to Sym on the keyboard. If you use those smileys (which are in colour) you will also be charged for mms.

There are Green smilys available. To access those go to the keyboard in texts and click on the button to the left of the menu key. A drop down will appear and you can select Green smileys from there that are not charged as mms.