Before I start the question I should point out I am in the UK. I recently used the apple latest os and was impressed with the iMessage app which combines with the text messaging app on the phone meaning texts go as iMessage's automatically if the other person has an iPhone and hence use data instead of message allocation and this can be used on tablet with no sim card which all bleep when a "text" is received. An os app is also available allowing the same from a laptop. I thought this was a good idea and wondered if there was anything similar available / planned for Android?
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sms messaging without sim card
- Thread starter devswap
- Start date
funkylogik
share the love peeps ;)
On android, the other person recieving the message sent via the internet has to have the same app installed. Theres 100s of apps like this.
Sms is a different thing, can send to anyone and uses a carrier (so sim needed) :thumbup:
Sms is a different thing, can send to anyone and uses a carrier (so sim needed) :thumbup:
chanchan05
The Doctor
This has been in existence even before there were iPhones LOL. It's basically the same thing as BBM, they just call it iMessage. You can use Viber, WeChat, Line, Kik, among others. And what's better is that Viber, Line and others is that it can message or call via internet to any phone that has the app. This includes Nokia Asha's, Symbian and Lumias, iPhones, Blackberries and other Androids regardless of brand.
I know there are third party apps but does android allow them to fit seamlessly ie I send a text from the messaging app on the phone like I am sending an SMS and it then uses one of these technologies rather than consciously signing into the app and the other person only able to reply using the app?
chanchan05
The Doctor
Samsung has Chaton for Samsung phones. Or you can use Google Hangouts. But no, you can't use the messaging app because different companies use different SMS apps.
I'm not sure that fragmentation is the correct word. You have a choice of 3rd party apps you can use for messaging over data, same as iMessage, and like iMessage you need the other person to have the same app. What's different is that Google haven't merged a proprietary system (iMessage) with the standard (SMS) messaging, and instead these things are separate apps. That's the only difference - an Android will come with Talk/Hangouts, but it's separate from the SMS app.
Because Apple have merged them, all iOS users have this, but if they want to use data for messaging a non-iOS user they need a separate app. So it's only a convenience if your friends use iOS (and why am I not surprised to learn that Samsung have a Samsung-only app?
). And one very common problem we meet with people who come from iPhone to Android is that their iPhone-using friends are no longer able to message them, because their friends' iOS message apps are still trying to use iMessage to send to them (and because it's all merged in and automatic, they often don't know how to do anything about this).
Because Apple have merged them, all iOS users have this, but if they want to use data for messaging a non-iOS user they need a separate app. So it's only a convenience if your friends use iOS (and why am I not surprised to learn that Samsung have a Samsung-only app?
). And one very common problem we meet with people who come from iPhone to Android is that their iPhone-using friends are no longer able to message them, because their friends' iOS message apps are still trying to use iMessage to send to them (and because it's all merged in and automatic, they often don't know how to do anything about this).
Where I am, don't think there's any fragmentation at all, on any platform. Everyone now seems to use WeChat, or Weixin as it's known here, more so than SMS. Which is not bad for a service that's only been around for 18 months or so. Don't think hardly anyway here uses iMessage, because that's Apple only. Gtalk is often censored and blocked. Viber for Android just gives "This app is unavailable in your country."...is it United States only? ..and I've never heard of Kik or Line.
To message my friends in the UK, they all use Skype. Even if they're not-online, one can always SMS from Skype. And you don't even need a SIM to SMS from Skype, you just have to have credit. And make sure I always use the normal one, NOT the special PRC version.
divinebovine
Android Expert
There are plenty of apps that can give you SMS/MMS and even voice calling over your wifi or mobile data connection.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.googlevoice
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.talkatone.android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.snrblabs.grooveip
Those are the three I've used.
Additionally, you can use an email<->SMS gateway.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_SMS_gateways
However, I don't think you'll find a way to do it with your stock messaging app...though there's probably an app to do exactly what you're asking for.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.googlevoice
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.talkatone.android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.snrblabs.grooveip
Those are the three I've used.
Additionally, you can use an email<->SMS gateway.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_SMS_gateways
However, I don't think you'll find a way to do it with your stock messaging app...though there's probably an app to do exactly what you're asking for.