Feature request: Allow sending/receiving MMS without enabling data

[FreshGarlic]

Custom ROMs I've used in the past had an option to allow this and I hope Samung will add it to their OS as well.

For example, I have a cheap plan with Public Mobile that offers little data that I use only when necessary but comes unlimited picture messaging. To keep usage to a minimum, I keep it disabled most of the time but because MMS can only be sent/received with it on I have to go through the hassle of toggling it from time to time.

[Axton]

Hi FreshGarlic, we will take it as feedback.
We certainly bring it to our team for further review.
Hopefully, all the features that you're expecting might be added in a future update.
Thank you for taking your valuable time for giving us your valuable suggestions.

We deeply value your relationship with Samsung and are committed to providing you with the highest level of service simply because our customers deserve the very best.

[RedDogRabbit]

The requirement of Cell Data for MMS, I believe is a Carrier requirement, nothing to do with Samsung. 

[FreshGarlic]

It might not change the fact that it's required but the option would basically allow the OS to automatically enable it temporarily whenever you need to send/receive MMS sorta like how apps running in the background is temporarily restricted while the battery is low.

[RedDogRabbit]

You can limit the battery use for the app you are using for SMS/MMS, but I don't think that it's possible to select MMS only to limit, it is going to be ALL messages, SMS/MMS & RCS (If you have RCS enabled). 

[FreshGarlic]

The battery usage was just an analogy.

I am not looking to limit certain types of communication. RCS is essentially just like services such as Messenger and whatsApp that use Wi-Fi.

What I want is to have data temporarily enabled for sending/receiving MMS without having to do it manually every time.

[RedDogRabbit]

RCS actually relies on Cellular Data as well, depending on the Carrier. 

[Nabsta333]

This can bring about a number of issues especially security vulnerabilities where your phone has unrestricted control on wether or not you want to use your data. For instance, some users have an extremely limited data plan (even less than 1 GB) and need to conserve every megabyte they can. Allowing your phone to toggle your data usage without your permission or knowledge can infringe on your control over your data and potentially even cause you to exceed your plans limit introducing further charges.

Ideally, a step in the right direction would be to bring up a pop up box that allows you to turn your data on immediately after sending an mms and furthermore, send you a notification that alerts you of incoming mms messages that require you to turn on your data, instead of the current vague message that only appears for a few seconds when you unlock your phone.

Hopefully, mms wouldn't be as common if apple chooses to adopt rcs, but until then i do agree that samsung should make receiving and sending mms messages more convenient.

[FreshGarlic]

There are already plenty of ways to save on data like the data saver mode and background usage restrictions. In my case I have unlimited MMS messaging separate from data, but if I didn't I could also set a data limit or warning as well to prevent overage. If they do implement it I'd assume it would be off by default so that you'd need to opt in for it to work.

As for the chances of Apple adopting RCS... the CEO literally told people to just buy an iPhone when asked about it.

Even if RCS were to be widely adopted, it's pretty much no different than existing services like Messenger and whatsApp which rely on Wi-Fi. If those could be used anyway then why even bother paying for a phone plan?

[Nabsta333]

Data saver mode and background usage restrictions are not enabled by default and require the users to opt in and setup those features manually, whereas MMS be toggled on and off automatically by default. Some users are simply not aware of those features and it certainly wouldn't look good if users realized that they had to enable this features in order to prevent the phone from consuming data autonomously

As for RCS, yes messenger and WhatsApp rely on wifi as do iMessage and as do RCS. The difference is, the user shouldn't have to create an account on a third party platform to be able to use vital features such as pictures and full res video sharing, especially if users don't want to give out their personal social media platform to others.