amekiro

Q: Android number to Mac iMessage

Hello, I currently use an Android phone and a MacBook Pro at home. I am the only person on my team at work with an Android, so my co-workers use iMessage for their group chats. I get the messages without a problem (just that they're all over the place, but I can piece them together), but sometimes I would need to send them back a message and it would be completely out of context as a separate individual text message. Since I have iMessage on my MacBook Pro at home, would it be possible to receive the iMessage messages on my computer from my Android phone number so I can reply in the chain? Thanks.

iMac (27-inch, Late 2013), OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Jan 24, 2016 2:34 PM

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Q: Android number to Mac iMessage

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  • by Ralph Johns (UK),Apple recommended

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jan 25, 2016 1:08 PM in response to amekiro
    Level 9 (73,087 points)
    Applications
    Jan 25, 2016 1:08 PM in response to amekiro

    Hi,

     

    This bit:-

     

    I get the messages without a problem (just that they're all over the place, but I can piece them together), ...

     

    Are you getting the messages on the Andriod at this point ?

    I.e. they are actually sending SMS to you which probably means they are all sending as SMS and not iMessages.

     

    The App is Messages. The account is iMessages.

    The iPhone version can send SMS "automatically" if the Contact is not an iMessages user.  (I have not tried this in Groups chats myself but it does work this way for 1-1 contacts at least).

     

    If you are already in a SMS groups chat I am not sure why you are unable to respond to the group.

     

    As to the Macbook Pro

    It can be set up to do SMS but this needs an iPhone.

     

    Set up the iPhone to do iMessages/SMS (It decides which to send)

    Set up the Mac with and Apple ID

    Add the Apple ID to the iPhone (links the Number and the Apple ID to "Sync" as Apple Calls it.

    On the iPhone make sure it joins your LAN

    IN the Messages settings Enable Text Forwarding - which prompts a code number to appear on the Mac - which in turn needs to be entered back on the iPhone to "pair" them

     

    Until this is done the Mac cannot receive SMS items linked to the iPhone Number.

    Basically the iPhone gets the SMS on it's carrier service and sends it on to the Mac via the WiFi link to the LAN and therefore the Mac.

     

    In the United States and on certain Carriers the AIM service will let you send SMS from within Messages (with an AIM account).

    See the Drop down (the + icon listed lines) https://help.aol.com/articles/aim-mobile-im-forwarding

    Basically once you have an AIM Account set up in Messages it can send SMS by entering the phone number as a Buddy.

    Obviously you an go a step further and add the phone number to a Contacts details as the AIM Name.

    To state again.  It only works with +1 Country Code services on certain Carriers.

    I have not seen it used fro group chats either.

     

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:07 pm      Monday; January 25, 2016

     

      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 amekiro,

    amekiro amekiro Jan 25, 2016 3:43 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 25, 2016 3:43 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Hello Ralph,

     

    Thank you for answering my question quickly.

    This bit:-

     

    I get the messages without a problem (just that they're all over the place, but I can piece them together), ...

     

    Are you getting the messages on the Andriod at this point ?

    I.e. they are actually sending SMS to you which probably means they are all sending as SMS and not iMessages.

    I know that my group is using iMessage to send the texts to everyone. I end up receiving individual messages as MMS from each person and out of context, they don't make sense, but when I piece them together, they're all from the same chain.

     

    I tried the AIM workaround and tested with my iPhone-using friends. It worked when I messaged people individually, but unfortunately, I was unable to start a group chat as the group chat invite could not be sent to them. I do not have a problem with sending and receiving individual text messages from iPhone users, but it becomes a problem when I'm involved in a group chat. I'd rather not switch to iPhone just for this purpose.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),Apple recommended

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jan 26, 2016 1:06 PM in response to amekiro
    Level 9 (73,087 points)
    Applications
    Jan 26, 2016 1:06 PM in response to amekiro

    Hi,

     

    I will re-state for the sake of clarity.

     

    The Messages App on the Mac can have an iMessages account Active and this can send iMessages just from the Apple ID if you don't have an iPhone.

     

    An iPhone has an app also called Messages and if you activate it it will register the iPhone Number with the iMessages Server.

    The App can also enable SMS/MMS messaging and it will decide how to send a "text" based on where the recipient is registered with. (i.e. iPhones that are registered and Apple ID will get iMessages but non Apple phones will get SMS).

     

    Later versions of the iOS version of Messages can Forward as it is called the SMS/MMS messages to the Mac over the same LAN.

    This enables the Mac to Send and Receive SMS.

     

    Posts here are not really clear about whether Messages on the iPhone can send mixed SMS/iMessages out to a mixed group of iPhone and non iPhones (presuming Numbers only).

    It is not something I have tried myself.

    This article suggests how it can be done http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/mobile-phone/how-send-group-texts-from-android -iphone-3472964/

     

    So to be clear:-

    The App is Messages and the Account/Service/actual text is called iMessage.

     

    Text (SMS) chatting is not something I did before iMessages came along for text chats on an iPhone.

    I was much more into using a Mac and iChat.

     

    In Messages, for an AIM chat, you should be able to add a number of people/Numbers to the "To" spot to create a group.

    Screen Shot 2016-01-26 at 20.58.30.png

    I happen to have used a spoof number as the second and the AIM Auto error message account as the other.

    You get this double circle in the Side bar to indicate there are more than one contact involved.

     

    There are specific SMS apps out there for computers and some are Mac ones.

    However that seems a bit like buying the iPhone just to make something that seems possible work by using something else.

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:06 pm      Tuesday; January 26, 2016

     

      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