Does AIM on a LG Shine counted as texting or internet ?

Question

Well i just got my LG Shine a few weeks ago. And just before i left the AT&T sotre i asked the guy, :"Does AIm count as texting" he says "Yes" . I have unlimited texting by the way. So i go on AIM and start chatting with my friends, i didnt log off because i thought it woulnd't charge me. I just put myself an away message. Then i texted my friends and they said that it cost internet but some say texting. but i really dont know so would some one plase tell me ? I dont pay my own phone bills yet so i dont know and my mom has

a hard time paying it theese days so i need to know asap

thanks !

Answer 1

Better find how in the bill. because it DEPENDS.

I worked for cell phone company for 5+ years.  I know there are MORE THAN 1 WAY to do AIM on most phones.  

For example. you can sign onto aim via mobile web (that would consider internet usage)  or you can sign onto AIM using Brew /Java application (That also consider internet usage during the sign in and sign out process only)  but once you are signed in the rest of them use text msg.  

But you can also sign onto AIM using "text" message by sending a message to a 5 digits number (they call this a premium text msg) and that just count as a text msg.

The complication of this even have MOST customer service confused.   So the best bet is call them up and insist talk to a “tech support” rep to find out.

Answer 2

IMs are not Texts.  The difference is how they are sent.  AIM, Yahoo, ICQ, etc., all use the internet.  and not only sending and recieving, but your phone needs to constantly reply to ur IM client to let them know you are still logged in.  Every bit of data costs you.  Text messaging or SMS messages only cost you for each message.  They are part of the cell phone company, and never have to leave the telephone system.  Your IMs have to leave the phone and jump onto the internet, and that is what will cost you.

So the short answer, IMs are not Text/SMS messages.  

Answer 3

it counts as internet usage, and for every IM you get and send it counts as a text

Answer 4

I have AT&T and I got charged for internet usage when I used AIM/Yahoo messenger, so if you have unlimited texting you should use that instead to talk to your friends. If you don't have an internet data package, you're racking up a TON of charges for your mom to pay by using the messengers.