Adding a person to an existing text conversation text (Not an existing group message!!!)

You can only add someone to a group if everyone in the group is using iMessage and the group already includes three or more people.

Add and remove people in group text messages on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

You will need to start a new group in order to add anyone.

billbane wrote:

Are you saying because of "protocols", Apple could not add this functionality? Pah.

No, we are saying that the SMS standard, which Apple, with all of its power, has no control over, does not support what you want to do. You need to convince the world’s mobile carriers and their technical standards body, the CTIA, that they should all modify their networks to support the feature that you want. This is not an Apple issue, all cell phones have this limitation.

billbane wrote:

IdrisSeabright, Thanks but, as I thought I said clearly that I WAS NOT asking anything to do with "groups".

If A sends a text to B, and B wants to respond to A, but also add C in to see it, how is this done?

What you're describing is a group text. A group text is basically any text thread that involves more than two people. It doesn't have to be some sort of predefined group.

If it cannot be done, this is kinda crazy since this is the second most fundamental step one takes using email.

Texting and email are two vastly different protocols. Very often, one is a better choice than the other for a given purpose.

billbane wrote:

Say, my son texts me, saying his wife was in an accident on "3789 Vine street in Smalltown, USA", and that I and my wife should meet him there ASOP. Suppose, because of urgency, he fails to send it to my wife. I should be able to respond to him and concurrently send a copy to my wife.

Copy the text and then send it to both people.

But, nooooooo....., you say this is not a needed function. Balderdash.

What’s “balderdash” is you putting words in my mouth. What I said is that it may not be the best choice.

Are you saying because of "protocols", Apple could not add this functionality?

I have no idea why Apple hasn’t added this. It could be a systemic limitation or it could be a design choice. Regardless, you need to work with the tools you have not the ones you wish you had.

So what is your political and technical solution to convince hundreds of carriers around the world to modify their network operating software, and if they agreed, how long would it take? And consider that SMS is hopelessly unsecure and obsolete, and will be replaced in coming years in a process that has already started.

I was wrong to mention CTIA, as they only represent US carriers, although they could probably pressure other countries.

billbane wrote:

The SMS standard has been around as long as CTIA, and I was there at the beginning.

Last I looked, CTIA wants to lock in customers as much as the next Joe,

The problem with CTIA is that they know squat about "customers" and customers do not even know who they are.

CTIA doesn't want to "lock in customers." It doesn't even have customers. It is an industry trade organization.

My problem with you two guys is you only "salute" Apple with "Apple knows best". Is it best to not offer what neither of you has denied would be a big improvement, per my example?

Perhaps folks like you two apologist are what is preventing Apple from doing better.

I have made no judgments on whether Apple or anyone else is doing the right thing. I have pointed out that the feature you want doesn't currently exist. Therefore, you have two choices: you can continue to be petulant and argumentative with people who 1) can't make the change you want and 2) who are just trying to help you or you can figure out how to work around the situation.

The fact that I don't share your indignation means only one thing -that I don't share your indignation.

Thanks, Lawrence!

Apple’s texting technology is practically perfect (iMessage). But SMS is NOT APPLE’S TEXTING TECHNOLOGY, something that you fail to understand.