Does iMessage count as a text?

Okay so i have an ipod touch and ill use iMessages to text my dad, who has a iPhone, or my cousins or friends who all have iPhones. (i know i'm a little out of the loop not having an iPhone). But i was thinking about getting an iPhone at my next upgrade in november, and i was wondering if using iMessaes to text other iPhones and iPods counts as a text? Like when i check online to see how many texts i sent a month, will those be counted in it?

I don't think so!

No they won't be counted but if an imessage can't be delivered as one it will go through as a text so you will have to keep an eye n them.