Can't Send Text Messages to Other iPhone Users

So after speaking with 3 different Apple support reps (for close to 5 hours in 2 sessions) I had to shut off iMessage on my iPhone in order to receive text messages. It is apparently either/or. I was told I wasn't using it the way most people do. I don't understand that - I was using iMessage with wifi users and texting with text users. The irony is that if it hadn't worked previously, of course I never would have used it the way I did. But it did work and now it doesn't. I don't have a data plan, and never did. Something changed but I still don't know what. I think it did happen after an iPhone update though.

In order to get text messages at all, I needed to go into Messages on my iMac, and in the accounts tab I had to uncheck my cell phone #. In my iPad, I went into Messages and under "Send and Receive" had to also uncheck that same cell #. Additionally I had to delete conversation threads with any iPhone users I was unable to text with, in order to be able to text them again. Deleting the threads gave me the green bubble again.

If I turn iMessage back on, right away I am unable to send or receive texts from iPhone users but can still send and receive with android users. So it has to stay off.

So now I receive only SMS texts and am not able to receive iMessage wifi texts. Apparently I've been told that if I had a data plan it would work. But it seems ridiculous to get a data plan in order to use iMessage for wifi use. So I'm not happy with the "solution", but I need to be able to receive SMS texts. I'm using Skype now with my senior mom, but because my sister doesn't have enough room for Skype on her phone it has put an end to our family group messages. Anyway, I hope my experience saves someone a bit of time.

Thank you. I think I've seen this. When I set "Send as SMS" on and turn the internet off, my message says "Cannot Send Message iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message" (iMessage is set to 'on'). When I set Send as SMS to off my message still shows up as a blue bubble even when internet is out of range and won't change to green anymore. Then when I send it (in the blue bubble) it takes 10 or more minutes to show that it's not delivered so I can't try the option of a drop down "Send as Text" unless I'm really not in a hurry. I have MMS and Group messaging set to on and when I have Wi-Fi I can talk to other iPhone users, but can't ever send them a text with my texting plan anymore. Works fine with android users though. I have been searching for answers for a couple of months and wondering if I might have to switch to an android phone in order to use my current cell phone plan.

I don't have an extra android phone. Is it necessary to put the SIM in another phone? Or can I just de-register?

Is there any other iPhone app that I could use for texting so that I could continue using iMessage with Wi-Fi?

Speakout 7-11 says: "Apple changed how they handle MMS settings during the iPhone 6 launch cycle. If you haven't updated since then, it would work. The update affected everyone." But it hasn't affected my niece.

The rest of my family is using iMessage for daily group updates and I'd really like to find a workaround so that I can continue to use iMessage for this group chat. It seems I have to choose between texting or iMessage, but I don't understand the logic in this change for either the carrier or for Apple. I'm not sure my 82 year old mother is going to be willing to learn another app to replace iMessage.

What doesn't make sense is that my niece has the same plan and is able to both text and use iMessage. Her iPhone is up to date.

I used this plan for years without problems and I'm finding this really frustrating. iMessage is the main reason I chose an iPhone.

Does anyone have a phone # for Apple support? It seems like there should be a way to turn iMessage off without having to access an android phone.

But really, I want to continue using iMessage with my family, and I need to know if there is another app that I can use for texting with my iPhone if Apple won't allow me to get texts using the Speakout plan. I have already purchased a year of this plan so switching plans isn't an option.

Thank you. My niece has the same plan with an iPhone 6s+ and she has no problem texting.

I turned everything on (cellular data, imessages, send as SMS etc) - no go.

I reset Network Settings - no go.

I reset all settings. Now, with internet off, I get the green bubble with two of my iPhone user friends, and texts went through, but with another it just says "iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message" and I can't send her texts. I had the first two people text me but I didn't receive either text until I had an internet connection. :(

I wonder if backup and restore would actually resolve this or if there is something else I could do. I had this plan for years without this problem. I'm not sure what happened, but I did do a carrier update as well as an iPhone update.

I emailed my carrier again (Speakout 7-11) and they said:

"If you do not plan on having a

data plan, you need to disable iMessage. This will mean every message you send

and receive will be a text message.

Currently, MMS on iPhones does

not work with SpeakOut.

Again, your best option to turn

off iMessaging and leave it off."

But actually turning iMessage off doesn't work either. I get a message saying that iMessage needs to be enabled.

Suggestion from another forum is to use another SIM to clear out iMessage (the poster had another phone with a Koodo plan). He said:

"From what I remember at the time, SMS short codes are needed. Speakout/Petro does not support these, therefore iMessage can't be used on Speakout/Petro (even on WiFi because SMS short Codes are still needed)

A phone reset is not required. The phone can't automatically switch iMessage between SIMs because it needs SMS short codes.

1) Put the koodo sim into the phone to clear out iMessage

2) activate/ regester on iMessage (using the koodo number)

3) deactivate/ deregister iMessage to clear it out (so no phone number is associated with iMessage)

4) remove the Koodo SIM

5) Install the Speakout SIM

6) *DO NOT ACTIVATE* iMessage anytime the Speakout SIM is in the phone (even on wifi) 

7) SMS should work normally now on Speakout"

But I don't have another SIM card to try this.

And additionally this means I can never use iMessage, which I use all the time with my family...

What to do...?