iMessage with Android? Thinking of switching from Apple, but...

[bgl321]

I have a similar issue... I recently switched to AT&T and to an GS4 from an iphone4 and where I work I do not get service, however I do have wifi... with the iphone I could still text and receive texts, however now I get nothing... is there a way or app that allows texting without cell service and does so using your current cell number... similar to imessage?

Ever get an answer to this? I was had the same question.

 

[Karl Thomas]

Whatsapp is a real time messanger. I use it and I am happy with it.

I agree.It's helpful.

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

I have a similar issue... I recently switched to AT&T and to an GS4 from an iphone4 and where I work I do not get service, however I do have wifi... with the iphone I could still text and receive texts, however now I get nothing... is there a way or app that allows texting without cell service and does so using your current cell number... similar to imessage?

Ever get an answer to this? I was had the same question.

This is reviving an old question, but I'll chime in...

Just clarify, with an iPhone, you can only send and receive texts over wifi that are sent via iMessage, that's an important point because if someone with a non-iPhone were to send you a message, you would still need the mobile network to retrieve it. iMessage is a great service because it can use your phone number to identify you on their network, making it very easy for iPhone users to seamlessly use the service...but then again it's that same seamlessness that causes a lot of problems for folks after switching away from the iPhone, so it has its disadvantages as well.

I have the same problem where I work, where I have zero to no cell reception at all. I've just let me friends know that they need either use Hangouts or email me because I'm simply not going to get their SMS texts in a timely fashion during the day. Most of friends that took my advice and started using Hangouts really like it and continue to use it all the time anyway.

 

[bgl321]

This is reviving an old question, but I'll chime in...

Just clarify, with an iPhone, you can only send and receive texts over wifi that are sent via iMessage, that's an important point because if someone with a non-iPhone were to send you a message, you would still need the mobile network to retrieve it. iMessage is a great service because it can use your phone number to identify you on their network, making it very easy for iPhone users to seamlessly use the service...but then again it's that same seamlessness that causes a lot of problems for folks after switching away from the iPhone, so it has its disadvantages as well.

I have the same problem where I work, where I have zero to no cell reception at all. I've just let me friends know that they need either use Hangouts or email me because I'm simply not going to get their SMS texts in a timely fashion during the day. Most of friends that took my advice and started using Hangouts really like it and continue to use it all the time anyway.

Does anyone else have a scenario like this: My wife and kids all have iPhones as do I. I'd like to try and make the switch back to Android but the biggest issue right now is imessage. I work where there's little cell reception so delivery on non-imessage messages is unreliable. Being connected to WiFi at work I don't have to worry about message not going out or coming in. Anyone else in this situation, and if so do what are your recommendations?

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

Does anyone else have a scenario like this: My wife and kids all have iPhones as do I. I'd like to try and make the switch back to Android but the biggest issue right now is imessage. I work where there's little cell reception so delivery on non-imessage messages is unreliable. Being connected to WiFi at work I don't have to worry about message not going out or coming in. Anyone else in this situation, and if so do what are your recommendations?

*IF* you were to switch to Android, my recommendation would be to have your family members use Google Hangouts for messaging amongst each other instead of iMessage/Text messaging. Google Hangouts works great, you can access, send and receive your messages on your phone or computer, has the ability to send pics and does a great job with group conversations as well...best of all, it has an app for iPhone which works great.

I have plenty of friends on iPhones that I communicate with via Hangouts. Yes, that will mean your family members will have use a different app for those conversations, but I don't feel like that's a really big deal.

 

[ieatcalcium]

Don't let anyone fool you. iMessage is amazing and is a HUGE advantage Apple holds over any Android device.
The speed of the messages and how you can send full sized images/video is unparalleled.

Not to mention literally everyone has an iPhone now a days so it is so darn popular. If they don't have an iPhone, they have an iMessage enabled Macbook Pro, Air, iPod, iPad, etc.

iMessage and iCloud are what keep me coming back to Apple always. I'm just stuck with an S4 for a while.

iMessage actually compresses all of the videos/pictures you send over the service. Telegram is the only app I know of that doesn't compress files if you tell it not to.

 

[ieatcalcium]

Don't let anyone fool you. iMessage is amazing and is a HUGE advantage Apple holds over any Android device.
The speed of the messages and how you can send full sized images/video is unparalleled.

Not to mention literally everyone has an iPhone now a days so it is so darn popular. If they don't have an iPhone, they have an iMessage enabled Macbook Pro, Air, iPod, iPad, etc.

iMessage and iCloud are what keep me coming back to Apple always. I'm just stuck with an S4 for a while.

iMessage actually compresses any videos or images you send over it. Telegram is the only app I know of that doesn't do this. I wish that apple would have used an open standard for iMessage so that androids could get it too.