iMessages/SMS - how does this work?

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Level 1

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iMessages/SMS - how does this work?

Hello everyone,

I would like to ask any of you how iMessage works, bacuse I still cant wrap my head around it and It caused an ugly problem for me recently. I am sorry in advance for my (maybe) dumb questions, but I hope someone will respond to this:

1. My friend turns imessage on and is online. I have my imessage turned on and I am offline

Do I get his text as SMS or will his iphone wait with imessage delivery to me until im online?

2. I am offline and I am sending my text to someone with iphone who is online

Will he recieve my text as SMS or will my device wait for me to be online before it sends itself as imessage?

3. When I turn iMessage off "for good" on my device,

does it only mean I cant send imessages, or does it also mean my friend can only send me SMS from now on (no matter who is offline/online)?

Thanks in advance!

M.

Posted on Mar 2, 2020 12:27 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

SravanKrA

Community+ 2024

Level 10

413,940 points

Mar 2, 2020 1:09 AM in response to marek31

It is not clear here what you mean by Offline / Online.

iMessage requires internet (Either over WiFi or Cellular Service) as it is sent over internet protocol.

SMS does not require any internet it is sent over cellular voice protocol.

Considering you only have one device under this Apple ID. The following statements are not valid for multiple devices with one Apple ID.

Option 1: If someone sends you an iMessage and your iPhone does not have an internet connection then you will neither receive an iMessage nor any SMS. As soon as your iPhone gets an internet connection the iMessage (sent earlier) will be delivered to your device and the sender will be intimated as "Delivered"
Option 2: If you try to send a message and you do not have internet on your device it will be sent as SMS, if you had enabled send as SMS (Settings > Message > Send as SMS [Enable]
Option 3: Is complicated. You need to de-register to stop iMessage on your Phone number. Only disabling iMessage will not stop iMessages. You can continue to send iMessage even without a SIM using your Apple ID.

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Answer 2

Mar 2, 2020 4:20 AM in response to marek31

Apple's iMessage works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac with a single Apple ID. And it works with your device connected to Wi-fi Internet or mobile data. So this is a nice feature to communicate with people (using Apple devices) without spending any money. When your device is not connected with Internet, your iMessage will be sent as SMS, and network provider messaging rates may apply.

If your friend has turned on 'Send as SMS' feature on his/her device, you will get the message as SMS even if your device is not connected to the Internet.

If your friend has turned off 'Send as SMS' feature on his/her device and sending you an iMessage to you, and if your device is not connected to Wi-fi or mobile data, your friend won't be able to send iMessage. When you connect your device to a Wi-fi network or mobile data, you will receive the iMessage.

For iMessage to work, both devices - sender's and receiver's - should be connected to Internet.

In case you need more information, please reply to this answer.

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