JohnFT
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: need to use mac to send messages to non-iphones

I would like to send and receive text messages from non-iphones.

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014), OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Dec 6, 2015 6:57 AM

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JohnFT

Q: need to use mac to send messages to non-iphones

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  • by Phil0124,Helpful

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Dec 6, 2015 7:36 AM in response to JohnFT
    Level 7 (27,397 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 6, 2015 7:36 AM in response to JohnFT

    For a Mac to send SMS messages you need to have it associated with an iPhone using Continuity.

    Use Continuity to connect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac - Apple Support

    With Continuity, all the SMS and MMS text messages that you send and receive on your iPhone can also appear on your Mac, iPad, and iPod touch. You can also reply to your contacts from whichever device is closest to you, including your iPad or Mac.

    You can start a conversation in the Messages app or click a phone number in Safari, Contacts, or Calendar.

    Set up SMS and MMS with Continuity

    1. You need iOS 8 or later on your iOS devices and OS X Yosemite or later on your Mac.
    2. Sign in to iMessage with the same Apple ID on your iPhone, your other iOS devices, and your Mac.
    3. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Add a check to both your phone number and email address. Then go to Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding and enable the device or devices that you want to forward messages to.
    4. Look for a code on the Mac, iPad, or iPod touch that you enabled. Then enter this verification code on your iPhone.

     

     

     

    Or at the very least be using a 3rd party App that can do so.  On its own a Mac cannot send messages to non-iPhones.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Dec 6, 2015 12:25 PM in response to Phil0124
    Level 9 (73,139 points)
    Applications
    Dec 6, 2015 12:25 PM in response to Phil0124

    Hi,

     

    On its own a Mac cannot send messages to non-iPhones.

     

    Not entirely true.

     

    It is a limited feature but the Messages app and an AIM Account can do it.

     

    It does take the phone to be in the United States and to be linked one of the Carriers that AIM supports with this.

    Then you enter the number with a leading +1 country code as if it were a Buddy. (like as in +1234567890)

    This suggested number will return a messages from the AOL/AIM System saying it does not work.

    need_to_use_mac_to_send_messages_to_non-iphones___Apple_Support_Communities.png

     

    The AIM/AOL site used to list the carriers that did this but after the latest revamp of their site I cannot find the list.

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:25 pm      Sunday; December 6, 2015

     

    ​  iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Dec 6, 2015 12:29 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 9 (73,139 points)
    Applications
    Dec 6, 2015 12:29 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    hi,

     

    Found the page https://help.aol.com/articles/aim-mobile-im-forwarding

    Open the

    Does my wireless carrier support IM Forwarding?

     

    topic item

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:28 pm      Sunday; December 6, 2015

     

    ​  iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad