Why does data have to be turned on to retrieve pictures?

[iMore Question]

My husband sends me pictures and I have to turn data on to get them why

 

[JOSH_WH1TE]

If it requires data then he's probably using iMessage; iMessage requires some sort of data connection.
He could send pictures as a standard MMS but that would add a lot of money to the phone bill from your carrier.

 

[Ledsteplin]

It should work on WiFi.

 

[nhlfreak9]

Not sure why but same thing happens to me when I have data off