Mobile Phone Data Messages.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm hoping someone knows more about mobile phones than I do.

Data messages. Are they stored, prior to sending, on the handset or on the SIM card ?

I ask because I don't have mobile data (won't bore you with the details) but it seems on one or more occasions the phone has, totally unbidden and without prior permission, changed a text message (which would have sent) into a data message (which obviously won't).

This has resulted in months of continuous warnings about not being able to send the rogue message (surprise surprise) coming up on the screen over the top of whatever I'm trying to look at/interact with. It's quite beyond reasonable endurance.

I have been in contact with Samsung error report technicians, but Samsung have proved utterly useless. Over the months, they take near forever between their responses and if they come up with anything it isn't a valid solution as it either suggests nothing, or suggests I speak to my service supplier to see what is wrong with the data service. I've told them time & time & time again there is nothing wrong with it, I simply don't have nor want mobile data, just the normal service & WiFi, and they need to explain how I can remove data messages their design of phone created. But it just doesn't sink in.

So I had a thought. If I could get someone else, who does have mobile data, to plug their SIM in to my phone, would the rogue messages go, or will they no longer be there but on my SIM ? Or worse, are they stored somewhere on the network !?! (I can't see how they can be given there is no mobile data to move them to the net.)

Cheers.

[Buenchico]

Your messages are simply too long for the SMS system to handle.

A single ('proper') SMS text can't be longer than 160 characters. In the very early days of texting, if you wanted to send a longer message you would need to send multiple texts. However if you now try to send a message with, say, 400 characters, it will be sent as a 'concatenated SMS' message, where there are actually three separate texts involved (and you'll be charged for three texts if you 'pay per text', rather than using having unlimited texts) but they automatically get joined into one on the recipient's phone.

The concatenated SMS system can't cope with texts that are more than a few multiples of 160 characters though. So, when you try to send a very long SMS message, it's automatically converted to an MMS ('picture message') one, which requires mobile data.

This might help:
https://www.guidingtech.com/fix-android-wont-send-picture-messages/

[Old_Geezer]

Thanks, but I know why it does it, but disagree completely with it doing so without explicit permission. That is definitely a design error. I will check the link, thanks.

[Old_Geezer]

Clearly all it needs to do is flash up when 480 characters have been typed, and thus allow the user to send part I, and start on part II.

[Old_Geezer]

Been through some of it only to find it then asked if the data message had now been sent. Of course it won't send, I don't have mobile data ! I've now cleared the cache and will have to see how it goes. There was an option to clear data, but that's a non-starter as it will apparently delete conversations and everything ! Well, fingers crossed anyway.

Meanwhile, if anyone knows the answer re using someone else's SIM, and where the rouge data messages reside, that info would be very useful. Thanks.

[barry1010]

Done bite my head off but have you looked at messages app?

[Old_Geezer]

That's what most of Chris' link was about.

I feel if it was that simple, sometime this year Samsung would've suggested what needed changing.

[barry1010]

Have you looked at that app?

[chelle7272]

MMS messages will appear in your Messages app the same as SMS. You should just be able to delete it as you would with a text.
You can stop the phone automatically changing it to MMS in you Messages app settings , more settings, text messages, input method. Change from auto to GSM alphabet

[Old_Geezer]

Just noticed 2 new replies. Apologies.

Have already looked at the app. Nothing there clearly a solution although IIRC I did turn off some notifications. Unsure what now. Was concerned I may be blocking more than I wanted to. Not used the mobile so much today, but can't recall seeing the warning, but I'm not counting any chickens until it's been free ofbthem for days.

I have no idea where I'd find these mysterious data messages to, in order to remove them. If I did the issue would have been solved months ago.

I have seen the 'input method' setting, but there was no clue what GSM alphabet or Unicode opitions meant or affected, so played safe and left them on Auto. I will try the suggested change then, thanks.

[barry1010]

Could you pop your partner's SIM card in, or a friend's? Just to see what happens

[Old_Geezer]

Will probably do so when I have the opportunity; but I'm always concerned that if a different SIM is detected by the phone, or a different handset detected by the account, it may go around changing all sorts of settings or something. So I thought I'd ask here first.

Meanwhile, I turned on the phone this morning, to find I'm still getting that warning.

Does anyone know where I might find the messages and delete them ?

[barry1010]

Putting a SIM card in won't make any changes at all to your phone

[barry1010]

OG, try this.
Open settings. Search for notification history.
If it is switched on you will see the unsent messages and may be able to delete them.
If it's switched off, switch it on. You will probably have to wait for the notification before they are listed

[Old_Geezer]

Near impossible to find, barry. Even looking on the Net just comes up with instructions that are not possible on this mobile. However I did see reference to an app called Activity Launcher which I've now installed, which seems to find a hidden activity log. I can't spot anything obvious in it yet, but I'll keep an eye on it, thanks.

[Old_Geezer]

Warning came up. Didn't see anything in the log.

[barry1010]

You'll have to pop a SIM card in.

[Old_Geezer]

My usual one is still in. The warning came up, nothing seen.

But I still have found nowhere where one turns logs on and off. And in the Messages app some of the switches are greyed out anyway.

(Not yet asked anyone if I can use their SIM.)

[barry1010]

Pop a SIM that does have mobile data in.

[Old_Geezer]

I will when I can.

Meanwhile, after a text has been converted to data, unbidden, what app then deals with it ? If Messages deals with normal texts and doesn't seem to create a log, maybe there's a different app I should be checking is creating logs.

Had 3 warnings cone up while just typing this !

[barry1010]

I have no idea - have you looked in the app called 'files' or 'file manager'? You may need to search through the various headers once you've opened it