link - Messaging Unlimited phone service from AT&T

Well, typically texting, sending pictures, texts, videos messaging over SMS is part of the texting package. This should be the same for the big post pay players. Pre-pay and second tier providers may be different.

AT&T use to have a $5 and $20 unlimited texting plan. For family plans it makes sense to get the unlimited. Currently it just seems the $20 plan is available. But with technology changing so fast aka Whatsapp, google voice etc, you can get away with only having the $5 text plan or no text plan at all. Whatsapp is prob minimal data used, same with google voice i would imagine. You can test it real easy and use the newer technology exclusively and change month to month having texting turned on\ off . Trust me i hated texting for longest time. But the new technology out there it's much easier. Aka, on my pc texting at work, voice to text.... and so on. I"m all about speed hence why i hate traffic and got me a peach pass b/c i value my time. And i I hate texting in general when i can talk way faster than typing but i see why kids like to text...stealth, private, and a whold plethora or reasons.