Really basic iMessage question!

Discussion in 'iOS 6' started by zachnelson, Jun 15, 2012.

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  1. zachnelson, Jun 15, 2012

    zachnelson macrumors 6502a

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    #1
    Can I use iMessage on my Mac to send a text message to a phone which is not an iOS device?

    And if so, do the messages get synced between all my Macs and iOS devices?

    (ie. does iMessage work like Google Voice?)
     
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  2. frunkis54, Jun 15, 2012

    frunkis54 macrumors 65816

    frunkis54

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    #2
    you can only send an iMessage between iOS to iOS or mac to iOS
     
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  3. miles01110, Jun 15, 2012

    miles01110 macrumors Core

    miles01110

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    #3
    You can send a message to a non-iOS device, but it will be an SMS, not an iMessage.
     
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  4. zachnelson, Jun 15, 2012

    zachnelson thread starter macrumors 6502a

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    #4
    Interesting, so for normal text messages I have to use my phone. It would be cool if there was a way to send texts through the computer like Google Voice.

    ----------
    So... is this message only from the phone or can you send a message to a non iOS device from a Mac?
     
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  5. Weaselboy, Jun 16, 2012

    Weaselboy Moderator

    Weaselboy

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    #5
    This is correct and Miles is mistaken.

    If on an iPhone and the recipient is not an iOS user it will default to normal SMS, but this does not work on Messages in OS X.
     
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  6. Julien, Jun 16, 2012
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2012

    Julien macrumors G4

    Julien

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    #6
    "Normal" text is a cell phone carries system is tied to your cell phone number and has nothing to do with Apple. So there is no way to send a cell phone text from your Mac or any other device that is not connected to a cell service provider.

    iMessage is a completely different system (as well as Google Voice) that bypasses the cell phone providers text service. Apple just integrates the 2 in one App and differentiates then by bubble color. Green for text and blue for Apple iMessage.

    Also this thread belongs in the iOS5 forum since it's not iOS6 specific.
     
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