So, SMS Relay (Continuity) doesn't require a phone anymore?

[sjinsjca]

Had something interesting happen while my phone was rebooting in the middle of updating to iOS 9.1.

Something totally mundane. I received a shipping notice via SMS.

On my Mac.

With my phone not booted.

Is this new behavior? It's pretty wonderful if it is.

 

[CEmajr]

I'm sure it was still routed through your iPhone. The message still comes through while your phone is rebooting, you just can't see it until it finishes. I was getting messages on my iPad while my iPhone was updating and when it finished those messages were still waiting to be read on the iPhone.

 

[MacDevil7334]

Are you on Sprint or T-Mobile? It looks like 9.1 introduced some advanced Wifi calling features that allow continuity to work even if the phone is not booted.

https://www.macrumors.com/2015/10/21/sprint-ios-9-1-enhanced-wi-fi-calling-feature/

 

[sjinsjca]

Are you on Sprint or T-Mobile? It looks like 9.1 introduced some advanced Wifi calling features that allow continuity to work even if the phone is not booted.

AT&T here. And no WiFi calling option in my area yet.

 

[sjinsjca]

I'm sure it was still routed through your iPhone. The message still comes through while your phone is rebooting, you just can't see it until it finishes. I was getting messages on my iPad while my iPhone was updating and when it finished those messages were still waiting to be read on the iPhone.

Maaaayyyybe. But consider, it means the SMS must be read by the not-yet-booted phone via the cell network, interpreted, converted to iMessage and routed out through WiFi? or Bluetooth? to my Mac or through the iMessage service over WiFi to the Internet? or something, in order for my Mac to display it. The phone was in the process of rebooting and showing the Apple logo.

Keep in mind I'd just upgraded iOS and had not yet entered in my iCloud credentials.

Very impressive in any case, and way mysterious.

 

[eagleglen]

Sounds like a time to employ the scientific method. You've got a theory, now develop a test to see how well it holds up. Maybe ask a friend to text you in a couple minutes while you completely turn off your phone. Let's us know what happens.

 

[sjinsjca]

Sounds like a time to employ the scientific method. You've got a theory, now develop a test to see how well it holds up. Maybe ask a friend to text you in a couple minutes while you completely turn off your phone. Let's us know what happens.

Superb idea, but all my friends have iDevices (so messages would ordinarily not send as SMS to begin with), and frankly I've lacked time.

My hope was that someone here might have thoughts on the mechanism. There's surprising little out there on how SMS Relay works.

 

[AbsynthMinded]

Maaaayyyybe. But consider, it means the SMS must be read by the not-yet-booted phone via the cell network, interpreted, converted to iMessage and routed out through WiFi? or Bluetooth? to my Mac or through the iMessage service over WiFi to the Internet? or something, in order for my Mac to display it. The phone was in the process of rebooting and showing the Apple logo.

Keep in mind I'd just upgraded iOS and had not yet entered in my iCloud credentials.

Very impressive in any case, and way mysterious.

If I am not mistaken, entering credentials at the beginning is purely for iCloud and has nothing to do with being signed into your iMessages. This is why you can skip it and activate it later, but still use iMessage.

When you turn on most phones, the cell radio(data included) is one of the first things to boot and remain on, even in the background during the Apple logo boot sequence. Also neither iMessage or SMS Forwarding protocols are removed from your devices during an update. Otherwise, you would have to actively sign into iMessage (re-selecting the emails and numbers associated) and get a new conformation code to use SMS Forwarding with apple devices.