Why is my iPhone not receiving SMS from other iPhone/iOS devices (ie. iMessage) when I'm away from WIFI? BEYOND FRUSTRATED!!!!

iMessage requires a data connection. Either WiFi or cellular data. If you have cellular data turned off or are in an area where you get no cellular data coverage, it won't work.

I am NOT able to receive SMS from those same devices when I am away from internet (either WIFI or DATA)

iMessage or SMS/MMS?

To exchange iMessages requires the iPhone having an internet connection via an available wi-fi network or cellular data or internet network.

To exchange SMS requires a cellular connection since SMS is exchanged over the same network as calls. MMS with the iPhone requires a cellular data or internet connection.

Under Settings > Messages if the people trying to send you a message, such as the mother of your children do not have the Send as SMS button turned On they will not be able to send you an iMessage while you do not have a data connection.

as the server registers the phone number associated with apple ID.

Only with the iPhone which in turn makes the iPhone's phone number available when activating iMessage with the Messages app on a Mac and on other iOS devices so iMessages can be synced and exchanged with the phone number on each Mac or iOS device registered with the same Apple ID.

The iPhone is designed to have cellular data access and the same with any other smart phone. The applied long before iMessage was available and cellular data with the iPhone is required for MMS and for downloading visual voicemail messages.

Log out of your Apple ID with iMessage and FaceTime on the iPhone since this is a problem for you. This should remove the iPhone's phone number from being available with iMessage and FaceTime on your Mac but may require logging out of your Apple ID and logging back in with the Messages app and FaceTime on your Mac after logging out of your Apple ID with iMessage and FaceTime on your iPhone.

Visual voicemail is downloaded via the carrier's cellular data network only. Been this way since day one in regards to visual voicemail.

Do as provided.

Another reason you should be using a "dumb" phone instead since an iPhone is designed and intended to have cellular data access and the same with any other smart phone.

Do as provided which should remove your iPhone's phone number from being accessible with the Messages app on your Mac and allow you to exchange iMessages with your Apple ID email address only on your Mac and the same with FaceTime.

The iPhone is designed and intended to have cellular data access which is the same for any other smart phone, which I venture to say 99.99 percent of iPhone users and other smart phone users throughtout the world make use of.

Your solution "as provided" is one in which I already received, conducted with Apple Tech support. I believe I stated that.

You stated you did as I provided where?

What I provided was disable iMessage or log out of your Apple ID with iMessage on your iPhone since you want to use your iPhone for SMS only and leave it disabled there. Follow this by logging out of your Apple ID with the Messages app on your Mac followed by logging back in which should remove your phone number from being available with the Message app on your Mac allowing you to exchange iMessages with your Apple ID email address only on your Mac. The same with FaceTime.

I have this exact problem. I have a data plan in the UK but whilst I am out of country, I do not have access to this and do not need to buy extra data - happy to receive emails etc whilst abroad when I have a wifi connection.

I do not want to switch off iMessage - I am new to that game and appreciating some of its features.

So why are iMessages not automatically being received by me as SMS when my phone does not have a 3G or wifi connection?

In settings new messages are sent by my number

Messages are received by number and my apple ID address.

Have you found a solution?

Is it frankly just easier to turn iMessages off altogether

So why are iMessages not automatically being received by me as SMS when my phone does not have a 3G or wifi connection?

Because iMessage is not SMS. It carries messages over the data channel. you can only receive iMessages when connected to either WiFi or the cellular data network.

Be sure people sending you messages when you are away are using your mobile number and have turned on the option to send those messages as SMS if iMessage is not available. They should look in Settings > messages > Send as SMS.

Thanks Alfred,

I was was under the impression that if my phone was not connected to wifi or 3G an sms would be sent instead. I am sure I have tread this somewhere and the opening post here seems to suggest this.

Am I right in saying that this is not possible.

In a test using my iPad to send an iMessage to my number, it was received only by my iPad, not the phone.

Should I therefore remove my number from being available for imessaging. Will I still have the ability to send iMessages on my iPad and iMac and iPhone (when iI have wifi of course)

All help gravely appreciated. I think I am beginning to appreciate the limitations of iMessage

You have no control over how someone else sends a message to you. It is possible but under the settings I described already.

Yes, removing your mobile number from iMessage will force messages sent to the number to be sent as SMS.