Devices convert SMS (text) messages when:

• Using iPhone messages and sending features and effects to a non-iPhone user. Or, when iMessage is unavailable.
• The SMS includes a non-standard smiley or symbol such as an emoticon, emoji or iPhone X Animoji. We've explained emoji's in detail below. 
• The SMS is sent to an email address instead of to a phone number. 
• You send a group SMS message.
• The SMS message exceeds the character limit - on sme phones this is 160 characters, on others it can be higher.
• The SMS message has a subject line.

Sending an MMS instead of an SMS is down to the phone you're using and not to do with the Spark network.

If you use emojis in a message it may be treated as an MMS depending on how long your message is and where you get the emoji from.

Each emoji is worth two characters, so if you send a message of 100 characters with an emoji on the end, this will be sent as an SMS and your normal SMS rate will apply. However, if you send a message with 159 characters with an emoji on the end, this will be 161 characters in total, and will be sent as a MMS. 

If you use the built in emoji feature on your device, messages with an emoji that are: 

• 160 characters or fewer are sent as an SMS (text) message. 
• Over 160 characters are sent as an MMS.

If you use a downloadable app feature to send an emoji in a message, then this will always be sent as an MMS no matter how long or short the message is and your usual MMS rate will apply. 

You can switch off the ability to send an MMS or MMS message on your mobile. If you switch off this functionality and try to send an MMS, you'll receive a notification that the message is undeliverable and no charges will apply. 

To avoid being charged for an MMS, you can always send pictures, videos and audio using mobile data or WiFi.  It’s easier with free third-party apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.  

If you have an Apple iPhone, you can turn on iMessage to send messages to other iPhones. These messages go via mobile data or WiFi so they are not chargeable as an SMS or MMS and will use your data allowance instead. 

There's a charge for video calling through your mobile phone. Charges are displayed in the table above.

If your mobile can make video calls, then it'll already be set up. Just dial your contact, select "Options", then "Video Call". Video calling works for calls made between two video-capable mobiles on the XT Network, and also on overseas calls to video-capable phones in any of our international video calling destinations. 

To avoid video calling charges we suggest you use free third-party apps like WhatsApp or Facetime. This will use your mobile data allowance or WiFi.