iMessage problems
Apr 11, 2015 | 9:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Seattle, Washington USA
Posts: 972
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?
Apr 11, 2015 | 9:34 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,774
Yep, just turn off iMessage on your phone and people will start sending texts instead.
https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage
https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage
Apr 11, 2015 | 4:50 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Seattle, Washington USA
Posts: 972
Yep, just turn off iMessage on your phone and people will start sending texts instead.
https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage
https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage
Apr 14, 2015 | 10:40 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYR
Programs: US/AA-Platinum, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Gold, AVIS-Presidents Club, National-Executive Elite
Posts: 2,755
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.
Apr 14, 2015 | 12:39 pm
#6
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 19,832
Apr 14, 2015 | 1:00 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Titanium, Nat'l EE, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,637
Apr 15, 2015 | 6:46 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Seattle, Washington USA
Posts: 972
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.
Apr 15, 2015 | 2:18 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: New Jersey
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 47,408
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.
Apr 15, 2015 | 2:36 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,895
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 
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.
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.
Apr 15, 2015 | 2:40 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: New Jersey
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 47,408
That's absoultely correct. I limit my "green" iMessages because they cost me .20 each.
Apr 15, 2015 | 3:14 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: East Bay Northern California
Programs: Platinum Card Rewards
Posts: 127
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.
Oh and BTW the Green messages are not iMessages. they're SMS.
Apr 15, 2015 | 6:29 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,895
A green sms amount the sea blue iMessage means everyone has to pay for the 1 person who didn't have an iPhone.
Apr 17, 2015 | 7:57 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,366
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.