Force iMessage to send an SMS?

Send it like normal (i.e. iMessage) then you can hold down on the balloon of the sent message and a menu will pop up with the option "Send as Text message".

Selecting this resends as a SMS and the balloon changed from blue to green.

Wow, you have to be fast with that. Mine only allows copy once the message is delivered. The hold trick is only available for a second.

But the user will then eventually get the message twice. Can I force a SMS message initially?

Settings

Messages

IMessage -> Off

But that turns iMessage off for everybody and you need to turn it back on again to send iMessages.

I thought the whole SMS/iMessage thing was supposed to be automatic and it isn't.

If you start an iMessage with somebody and then they move out of data range, your messages to them still send as iMessages and not SMS. The consequence of this is they do not receive your messages until they are back on a data feed. If they have gone on holiday for example, they may be waiting 2 weeks to get your messages.

Not for me. If iMessage fails it sends as a text after a minute or two. If it fails again it gives and option on the red mark to send as text.

I'm in Australia and here the decent phone plans have unlimited free text messages but a 2gb monthly data limit so I just turn it off altogether.

It should send it as a sms by default when it can not send an iMessage. Are you the only one unable to send her a sms or is everyone unable to send her an sms?

You are quite correct.... "It should"... but it doesn't if you already have a iMessage conversation established when the other party goes out of iMessage range...

Here is a way to prove it does not work….

I’m here with a mate. We are sending blue messages between us with no problem.

On the recipient phone, turn off wifi and General/Network/Cellular Data to simulate a no-data connection. SMS messages will still work.

Now on the sender phone, send another blue message. The message sends as an iMessage and is not delivered. It is not sent as a green SMS. You can send as many messages as you like.

Now turn cellular data or wifi back on and the messages arrive.

The transition from iMessage to sms is automatic. When im sending an iMessage and i lost 3G the Send button changes from blue to green indicating it is now a sms. Try this link see if any of the steps help resolve your issue.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2755

Edit: I didnt see your reply before posting this, ignore the top try the link see if it helps

I am talking when your recipient goes out of range, not you.

Your message still send to them as iMessages and they never receive them.

When you say out of range do you mean loss of 3G or loss or cell service all together?

I mean no data connection. IE no 3G, no wifi, no GPRS. Only the cellular signal.

Not sure if you saw my message above. Here it is again. Try it with somebody....

Here is a way to prove it does not work….

I’m here with a mate. We are sending blue messages between us with no problem.

On the recipient phone, turn off wifi and General/Network/Cellular Data to simulate a no-data connection. SMS messages will still work.

Now on the sender phone, send another blue message. The message sends as an iMessage and is not delivered. It is not sent as a green SMS. You can send as many messages as you like.

Now turn cellular data or wifi back on and the messages arrive.

Yes I understand what you are saying. I have lousy cellphone reception where I work and most of the time im running on Edge instead of 3G (edge means no internet what so ever which is the same as turning the cellular data off) and my iPhone has no problem switching between iMessage and SMS and I dont get a backlog of iMessages. I will recieve sms messages but in the odd spots I do get 3G my iPhone switches back to iMessage. Try the link above and see if it helps your issue

I have tested this with lots if users and they all report the same problem.

If you start an iMessage and the recipient moves out of data coverage your messages will continue to send as iMessages.

If there is no pre-iMessage conversations SMS's send just fine.

All you need to do if try the test I sent.

I work for an airline and many of my iMessage contacts leave the country for a few days at time. If I continue any conversation, the recipients never get te messages until they are on a data connection. If I force a SMS they get them immediately and THEN the conversation will continue using SMS.

Thanks for your help anyway.

I have the same problem. My iphone does not recognize when the recipient has no internet connection and it still send it as iMessage and not as SMS as should be. I have turn on the "send as SMS" in settings, messages menu.

Does anyone know why this happening and how we will resolve it?