What do you use to replace these features?

[SugarMouth]

So I use an iPhone and an Android. What do you use for:

Visual VM?
iMessage/text on Mac equivalent?

 

[SpookDroid]

-Visual Voice Mail is carrier dependent, so that's up to the carrier you're on (most charge extra for it, though). If you switch your number to a Google Voice number, however, you get visual VM for free, but since it's only a Google Voice number, you don't get the same terms as your carrier (unlimited voice/text to US and Canada, but international will cost... low rates, but not included as it is with some carriers now).

-Any other instant messaging app like Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, WeChat, etc. If you just want the ability to text from your computer or other device like you can with iMessage, then you can do that with apps like Push Bullet or, an all-time favorite, MightyText (most likely what you'll like). If you are on T-Mobile, you can activate your line as a DIGITS line and be able to text/call and sync that on any device and/or computer. Or, a third option, is again, to switch your number to a Google Voice account and be able to text from Hangouts on any device or web browser. Also, some manufacturers, like Samsung, have their own options for text sync with a computer (i.e. Samsung's Flow)

 

[hallux]

I'm on Project Fi, I get VVM in the stock dialer and use Hangouts integration to use the Hangouts plugin for Chrome to get my texts on my Mac. They also come into the web interface on Gmail if I want to go that route.

 

[SugarMouth]

Thank you! Sounds like the iPhone will be the work horse. I cant change my number and iMessage on my Mac is used all day. Work arounds IMO are usually a disappointment.

 

[MikeC01]

I get visual voicemail through the Google Voice app. My phone is just setup to forward calls to my Google Voice voicemail if I don't pick up or if I ignore a call. The setup of the app took care of everything. It was very easy to do although I couldn't do it back when I was with Verizon. So, you're ability to do so will vary from carrier to carrier.

 

[idiotekniques]

I used to use Google voice for VM and it's good but switched to Youmail, and it's a bit better, but not free.

For iMessage until Apple let's Android in, you are going to have to just bite the bullet. THere are various apps that allow you to text via a browser window, chrome plugin or even a standalone pc/mac app.

 

[evo4gMN]

I'm on Verizon but use google voice for my VM. I ditched the Verizon visual voicemail back when I was on my S7 because they wanted to charge me. I'm wondering now that I'm on my 2 xl if I should check out something else.

 

[Almeuit]

So I use an iPhone and an Android. What do you use for:

Visual VM?
iMessage/text on Mac equivalent?

Visual voicemail I just use the dialer app. Works fine for Verizon.

I just use standard text (SMS/MMS). I don't have a Mac so I have no concern with that one.

 

[Rukbat]

The industry is working on revamping the whole SMS thing (the protocol was written for pocket pagers), so that we can have large texts and large attachments, like iMessage. Android Messages is the first app to make use of some of the features (like texting over wifi), but it's probably going to take a couple of years before it becomes an Android standard. (It took a few years before we could send MMS between carriers.)

 

[muzzy996]

For messaging I'm currently using Pulse SMS (paid version) to do SMS messaging from multiple platforms through my Android phone (original Pixel XL). The application works very well and is more power efficient and stable than anything else that I have tried (MightyText, Yappy, Pushbullet, AirDroid).

The app replaces stock messaging app on my Android phone. On my workstation at work (PC) I use Pulse in Chrome browser via an extension. On my iPhone I use Pulse in Safari by just accessing the Pulse website via URL (saved to my app drawer). On my Mac I use Pulse in Chrome (extension) or in Safari (URL). Through any of my devices any texts that I send or receive are channeled through Pulse's website. Incoming messages are sent from the Android phone to Pulse's site and pushed to other devices while outgoing messages from other devices are sent out via Pulse website to my Android phone and then delivered via SMS. At least that's how I envision it is working in simple terms. Messages are encrypted as they pass through Pulse's service but I don't think you can fully encrypt them end to end.