iMessage: On or Off?

[NoCleverSNForMe]

Do you keep iMessage turned on?

I'm a techie, so I have switched between various Androids and iPhones throughout the years. I love experimenting to see what's new on the other side of the aisle, both in hardware and software. Whenever I have switched to an Android, I run into the problem of not having my texts come through in group messages (and even in certain direct one-on-one messages) when I turn off iMessage in Settings and even used the Deregister tool on Apple.com.

Fast forward a few years: I fixed the problem and have made switching between both platforms easier. I keep iMessage and FaceTime turned off all the time. Whenever I've tested out an Android (most recently, the Galaxy S8), I am able to pop in my SIM and not worry about messages not coming through.

However, now I'm realizing that no matter how much fun or pretty an Android initially looks, I'll always come back to iOS since I own multiple Macs, an Apple TV, and an Apple Watch.

Should I turn iMessage and FaceTime back on? Is it worth it? Do you value your use out of it? Thanks! I really appreciate it!

 

[willmtaylor]

Do you keep iMessage turned on?

I'm a techie, so I have switched between various Androids and iPhones throughout the years. I love experimenting to see what's new on the other side of the aisle, both in hardware and software. Whenever I have switched to an Android, I run into the problem of not having my texts come through in group messages (and even in certain direct one-on-one messages) when I turn off iMessage in Settings and even used the Deregister tool on Apple.com.

Fast forward a few years: I fixed the problem and have made switching between both platforms easier. I keep iMessage and FaceTime turned off all the time. Whenever I've tested out an Android (most recently, the Galaxy S8), I am able to pop in my SIM and not worry about messages not coming through.

However, now I'm realizing that no matter how much fun or pretty an Android initially looks, I'll always come back to iOS since I own multiple Macs, an Apple TV, and an Apple Watch.

Should I turn iMessage and FaceTime back on? Is it worth it? Do you value your use out of it? Thanks! I really appreciate it!

I never turn them off ever. They’re too useful for my needs.

 

[NoCleverSNForMe]

I never turn them off ever. They’re too useful for my needs.

Hey! Thanks so much for replying! What are your needs? I'm trying to understand how people use iMessage. I may learn a cool trick or helpful tip from you; I appreciate it!

 

[bigjnyc]

Hell yeah man... iMessage is probably one of the best things about iOS! I used an android for a while and felt silly because I wanted to switch back to iOS mostly for iMessage but I’ve realized I’m not alone on this

 

[4Z8VF2J]

I use iMessage, as some of my contacts have iOS devices.

FaceTime is switched off as I have no interest in or need for video calling.

 

[spooklog]

Facetime is essential to me. When my son calls we can talk for hours, in the car, at the store, you name it. At home I just leave the phone propped up on something (as does he) when cooking dinner or working on the computer; we just hang out via Facetime. Works like a charm.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Why would you ever turn it off?

 

[pika2000]

I used to turn it off since I switched SIM quite often, and in the past iMessage is quite finicky on people switching SIMs. Now I notice that the system de-register numbers quite reliably. Nonetheless, I have a dedicated SIM on my iPhone now thus I have it turned on.

 

[eyoungren]

Well…I have three iPhones and an iPad so I leave it on. Easier to just grab whatever device is closest at the time because you can forward iMessages from the main device to the rest.

And…I've had at least one iPhone since Christmas 2011 so there's that.

That said, I've got one person I know who has an iPhone and uses iMessage but for some reason every time I send to him it's an SMS. He says it happens with his mother too. So I find that strange because everything appears to be set correctly and he's the only one this occurs with.

However, I am not tied to any of Apple's services.

Last time I checked (as early as last night), iPhones still receive SMS, so if I switched tomorrow (unlikely) I'd still be able to message the people I need to reach.

This being 2017 no one I know is on a limited texting plan where my texting them via SMS is an issue.

I've also never entirely understood the appeal of iMessage. I know you can send larger messages (SMS breaks them up) and I know it works over WiFi.

But I have unlimited data and unlimited texting. And my phone is rarely on WiFi (I use the unlimited data I pay for) so iMessage has no real advantage for me (an MMS will do).

It does make texting my international friends with iPhones easier though as I don't pay for those text messages.

 

[Applejuiced]

I love imessage, and I never turn it off.
It has many added features than regular text message and I dont switch my sim to any non-iphone devices so there's no need to disable and deregister it.

 

[HallStevenson]

You're asking an Apple crowd this question ? So far, all but one response has been keep it on.

I used Android for ~8 years myself and what does iMessage offer ?

• Larger, higher-quality pictures
• Delivery and/or read receipt (though literally everyone turns OFF read receipt) by default. Android has one or both - not 100% sure anymore - as they are OFF by default.
• Longer messages*

Remember, these aren't so much a function of the Messages app as they don't work if you text non-iPhone users.

* Verizon, at least on Android, allows messages beyond 160-characters when sending between Verizon users, as I recall.

That all said, enabling it does no harm. It's more of a "smart" setting. If you message other iPhone users, it will use the iMessage protocol. If you message non-iOS users, it sends them as regular text.

 

[potentmf]

I keep it on because it's my only messenger app, but if I switch definitely won't miss it. Most of my friends and family have Samsungs so I don't get to use the special features it has often. But when I do I have a tendency to go overboard

For the folks on Android, the hangouts app does the same thing. that's how I communicate with family from my iPad.

 

[cracksoup]

The more you use Apple devices, the more you'll appreciate their services. For instance iMessage. It syncs seamlessly between my iPad, MacBook, iPhone and Apple Watch and I am literally one click away from the text at hand no matter which device I'm using. I had a Galaxy for 2 years and iMessage was one of the things I missed the most.

 

[Sketchr]

I used to always keep it off. But then Apple added the ability to use handwritten messages and effects on texts. So now I'm sort of hooked on those.

 

[mmomega]

Hey! Thanks so much for replying! What are your needs? I'm trying to understand how people use iMessage. I may learn a cool trick or helpful tip from you; I appreciate it!

My particular needs from iMessage is being able to type on and respond to a text on any device I use.

My work computer, home desktop, laptop, phone. I can go from one device to the other and continue having the same conversation without being stuck to my phone.
It is much more convenient for me, if I am on my desktop or laptop working and I receiving a text, to be able to see that message right then, than to stop what I am doing, grab the phone, unlock, open messages, thumb type a response, set the phone down and go back to what I was previously doing.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I use iMessage, as some of my contacts have iOS devices.

FaceTime is switched off as I have no interest in or need for video calling.

FaceTime is much more than video calling. FaceTime audio is a huge deal, especially if you are traveling aboard and have WiFi available. I use FaceTime audio just as much as a normal phone call.

 

[T-Bob]

There's a lot of really fruity people on iMessage, caution advised.

 

[bbrks]

I like blue messages, so it's always on

 

[HallStevenson]

I like blue messages, so it's always on

Until you text someone that doesn't use an Apple device or .... (gasp!) has iMessage turned off.
[doublepost=1501094287][/doublepost]

My particular needs from iMessage is being able to type on and respond to a text on any device I use.

My work computer, home desktop, laptop, phone. I can go from one device to the other and continue having the same conversation without being stuck to my phone.

That is very handy, but why cripple it to not include non-iMessage users ? I know (and text) plenty of people without iPhones so for some, I can text from my computer while others I have to use the phone.

Texting from my computer was something I did on Android for years. Apple could allow it to work with non-iMessage users too if they wanted to as well. Just allow the phone to sync regular SMS from the phone to the "cloud" and then to computers and vis-versa.

 

[T-Bob]

Until you text someone that doesn't use an Apple device or .... (gasp!) has iMessage turned off.
[doublepost=1501094287][/doublepost] That is very handy, but why cripple it to not include non-iMessage users ? I know (and text) plenty of people without iPhones so for some, I can text from my computer while others I have to use the phone.

Texting from my computer was something I did on Android for years. Apple could allow it to work with non-iMessage users too if they wanted to as well. Just allow the phone to sync regular SMS from the phone to the "cloud" and then to computers and vis-versa.

Hmm? I can send SMS from the computer. Just goes off as green like it does on phone. Maybe yours needs to be configured to use phone SMS as well.

 

[eyoungren]

The more you use Apple devices, the more you'll appreciate their services. For instance iMessage. It syncs seamlessly between my iPad, MacBook, iPhone and Apple Watch and I am literally one click away from the text at hand no matter which device I'm using. I had a Galaxy for 2 years and iMessage was one of the things I missed the most.

Except if your main Apple computers are a 2003 PowerBook G4 and a 2006 PowerMac G5 Quad, both running Leopard 10.5.8. No current Apple service I know of works with these Macs. Hell, the iPhone 5 can't even sync with them!

I can get around that by jailbreaking my phone (done a long time ago) and using Remote Messages. Combined with a Fluid app to access my iPhone remotely as long as both the Mac and the iPhone are on the same WiFi I can then use that app to send/recieve messages by controlling the iPhone that way.

I use Google's services and Dropbox, which by the way, still functions on PowerPC Macs despite what Dropbox tells you. Both these services are cross platform and work on any device. Unlike Apple's services, which I tend to appreciate less any time I am forced to use them on the Mac Pro at work.

I'm not missing much.

 

[HallStevenson]

I get a pop-up message that says

"Your message could not be sent.
(phone-number-here) is not registered with iMessage."

The first time I tried to send it, instead of getting that pop-up, it tried to send it....

 

[Mlrollin91]

I get a pop-up message that says

"Your message could not be sent.
(phone-number-here) is not registered with iMessage."



The first time I tried to send it, instead of getting that pop-up, it tried to send it....

You turned on SMS forwarding on your phone is message settings? No issues here with SMS on my iPad or Macs.

 

[cracksoup]

Except if your main Apple computers are a 2003 PowerBook G4 and a 2006 PowerMac G5 Quad, both running Leopard 10.5.8. No current Apple service I know of works with these Macs. Hell, the iPhone 5 can't even sync with them!

I can get around that by jailbreaking my phone (done a long time ago) and using Remote Messages. Combined with a Fluid app to access my iPhone remotely as long as both the Mac and the iPhone are on the same WiFi I can then use that app to send/recieve messages by controlling the iPhone that way.

I use Google's services and Dropbox, which by the way, still functions on PowerPC Macs despite what Dropbox tells you. Both these services are cross platform and work on any device. Unlike Apple's services, which I tend to appreciate less any time I am forced to use them on the Mac Pro at work.

I'm not missing much.

Sounds very intuitive and seamless to use 14 year old hardware.

 

[eyoungren]

Sounds very intuitive and seamless to use 14 year old hardware.

No, not really. And I don't expect it out of anyone else. It's just my personal taste and income bracket.

These Macs are inexpensive (my Quad cost me $100) and they still function. With a little dedication you can do pretty much what everyone else can. But most Apple users won't be bothered to make old hardware work. Apple says upgrade so they do.

Apple's services either have equivalents or can be worked around.

I'm not bashing on Apple or anyone using their services, nor am I saying the services are bad. It's just I either don't use them or have workarounds that function just as well.

I enjoy making older devices functional. A byproduct of limited income where you're forced to make do.