iMessage problems
 

I wonder if there's a solution to my problem with iDevices and iMessage. It's been my experience that if someone attempts to text me they will attempt it and unless I have a data source I never will get the message. I do not subscribe to a mobile data plan so if someone attempts a message to me it will never get delivered to me unless I am in a WiFi hot spot. Do I need to somehow remove myself from the iMessage server in order to receive texts from another iDevice user?

Yep, just turn off iMessage on your phone and people will start sending texts instead.

https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage

Thanks!

But be aware that if you turn off iMessage, and someone tries to iMessage you on their iPads (without connecting to an iPhone) or if they are oversea using only iMessage, you won't get them even if you are in WiFi range.

You bought an iPhone and you don't have a mobile data plan? 1) I didnt know that was possible from the major carriers, and 2) why? I didnt know people used their iPhones as phones still.

Who mentioned an iPhone?

Considering iPads and iPods cannot receive SMS messages, what other iDevice is there?

Well... OP has an iDevice that could receive iMessages. OP wants to receive regular TXT when he has no data source (WiFi). Doesn't it have to be an iPhone?

If you have postpaid it is not possible but if you have prepaid it is indeed possible. I don't subscribe to a data plan because I cannot afford the $30 - $70 cost per month for a data plan. For data I rely on WiFi only. If there's no WiFi I have no data.

I used iMessage on my iPod Touch until I got an iPhone. Agree the messages won't get through if you're out of wifi range. turning it off is the only solution.

Also be aware that if you turn off iMessage, people who used to iMessage you because they do not have a TXT plan may now have to pay 10 cents (or whatever) per TXT. They may not like it and stop TXT you all together and you will end up with the same result not getting any messages LOL :p

My family stopped including me in group txt after I switched to Android. Because I am "green" on Message App (blue if you use iMessage). And Green costs everyone in the group money. :p

That's absoultely correct. I limit my "green" iMessages because they cost me .20 each.

Interesting. I've never paid a dime for a green text message. But that might be because I have unlimited talk and text.
Oh and BTW the Green messages are not iMessages. they're SMS.

Yup if you have unlimited sms you don't have to pay. I think many people who got iPhone with data cut off their SMS plan or get one of the $5 for 100 SMS per month plan. It doesn't happen much now since most of the carriers are switching over to unlimited talk and txt... but a few years ago it is very common.

A green sms amount the sea blue iMessage means everyone has to pay for the 1 person who didn't have an iPhone.

Actually they can. You can also get SMS (and iMessage) on OS X Yosemite. I use it all the time. However, I believe it's somehow linked to my iPhone, and I suspect it wouldn't work if I didn't have phone service.

Yeah, the feature was introduced on iOS 8. Your phone communicates via the local wifi network with other devices signed into the same Apple account on the local network. It's the same way I can make regular phone calls on my iPad - it goes over wifi to my phone.

Apple marketed it as "continuity".

https://www.apple.com/ios/whats-new/continuity/

I've been using it since last fall, to make or receive calls and messages across multiple devices using one mobile phone number.

Thank you for explaining this ^ (and I figured it was something like that) as a few weeks back, I called goalie-parents at their place in Palm Beach on goalie-mom's iPhone and she answered the call on her iPad as both her iPhone & iPad (wifi only) were both connected to their wifi network

That feature is driving me crazy :) My husband has: an iPad, and iPod Touch, a personal AND work iPhone. He linked them all together using iCloud. When they're all in the same place at home it can drive me nuts :)

I have an iPod Touch and and iPhone and DID NOT link them together. I don't need that convenience :)

That link feature is great. It allows me to keep my Android among a family of iDevice users. I could now txt people on their iPads using regular SMS instead of iMessages. My wife has her iPad with her all the time when she is at home, but her iPhone would be sitting somewhere at a corner on vibrate or silence mode. I could have never reached her before the new function.

Be aware that it kinds of drain your iPhone's battery though. Because if you go out with your iPad and iPhone, it creates an instant hotspot on your iPhone to keep the Continuity going.

The use of the SMS may increase the costs for sender and/or recipient. I guess this is a big part of why Whatsapp has the customer base it has. Oh wait, it doesn't work on iPads. Back to Skype.

Mine has never done this. You probably just have your Personal Hotspot feature turned on.

I believe it is called Instant Hotspot and her iPad is set to remember it to autoconnect when it is out of WiFi range. Here is what listed on Apple's Continuity page:

No Wi-Fi? No problem.

If you’re out of Wi-Fi range, your iPad or Mac can connect to your phone’s personal hotspot when your iPhone is close by.* With the new Instant Hotspot feature, you’ll see the name of your iPhone in the list of Wi-Fi networks in Settings on your iPad and in the Wi-Fi menu on your Mac. Just select it and you’re connected. And when you’re not using your phone’s network, your devices intelligently disconnect to save battery life.

Interesting, I didn't know that. Never seen it myself...but I guess I've never looked.