iMessage from Mac defaults sending SMS

HI,

iMessages are not SMS messages.

They are sent to an Apple ID or an iPhone number.

The Process then "syncs" (Displays on all Devices) that use the Apple ID or the iPhone Number.

Other than recipients keeping their iPhone's without an Apple ID listed there is no way to send iMessages to specific devices.

iPhones can send SMS messages to non iPhone phones.

The differences is in the coloured Bubbles the app on the iPhone displays for returning messages.

The Messages App on the Mac can send SMS when you have an AIM Buddy list, your computer is set up to "be in" the US and the Phone in question IS in the United Stated ON a Carrier that supports AIM's SMS forwarding.

If people are using their Googlemail IDs as their Apple IDs or are listing them in the iOS devices Mail Set up then they will get the message (as Mail or as an iMessages) either way.

9:25 PM Thursday; November 15, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 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
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Hi,

In Messages go to the Messages menu >Preferences > Accounts

In the iMessages Account change the bottom drop down on the right to the Apple ID.

This will mean the greyed out identifying ID/iPhone number or other Screen Name will change for iMessages.

9:13 PM Sunday; November 18, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 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
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

For the Points

8:44 PM Monday; November 19, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 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
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Hi Ralph - long time no talk to. I have a friend with an iPhone 5 who can't send messages to non iPhones. She can receive texts from non iPhones. When she does text, it looks like it goes through, she doesn't get an error message or anything. She has sms turned on. She has Verizon.. They are not able to dx the problem. Apple has been great and even replaced her phone. For some reason she can text her husbands non iPhone - that occurred while they were in the apple store and has maintained since then. She uses a gmail acct for an apple id. Everyone is stumped. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks

Jim Crawford

Upstate ny

HI Jim,

I must admit to not knowing much about the iPhones really.

I have gathered some info regarding iMessages and the link it has with the Mac Messages app.

I am not sure if the App, via the login it has with the iMessages server can tell if the phone number in question is a valid iMessage one and can then "choose" to send iMessages and can "choose" to send SMS when not a valid iMessages ID.

This would seem more likely than the iMessages server sorting the messages that are sent and separating some off to go via SMS and deal with iMessages themselves.

I did some checking using the Mac version of the Messages App.

It does seem that if the person's iPhone number is not identified as an iPhone then the Messages App does not put the little blue iMessages icon next to the number in the drop down.

Example

It says "iMessages" but the little blue icon is not there.

I discovered that my son's phone number was listed as "Mobile: and not "iPhone" and it did not get marked with a blue iMessages icon. (in the Contacts App)

It is not very scientific as it was only 1 Contact that I checked.

It is confused as my own card does not list the Apple ID that I uses in Messages on the Mac and on the iPhone but it is shown in the Mac Messages app as it is linked in the account set up (with the iPhone number as an Alias).

I am sure they have looked at this in the Store and also tested that she can enter numbers directly (no previous contact or Contact app Listing) and that the app can recognise non iMessages/non iPhone numbers.

Of course having an iPhone does not mean she has a Mac computer and Contacts or even an iCloud account to sync the Address Book.

Comparisons could be made if she does have the Messages app on a Mountain Lion computer (and the Contacts App) but she may well have to go through her iPhone's Contacts list if it is not syncing to anything to check how the phone numbers are listed.

8:22 PM Wednesday; November 21, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 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
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Hi Ralph,

I am just double checking what you said here;

If a person is using their gmail account for their apple id, there is no way to make the chat program default to imessage rather than the jabber?

I find it annoying to have to manually change that every time I double click a person's name to chat.

Thanks.

~Row*

HI,

In Messages if the Apple ID is a Gmail email ID then it can be added twice.

Once as the iMessages ID and again using the + button lower left and choosing GoogleTalk.

The second Account would then connect using a Jabber Buddy list and be able to IM (Instant Message) Jabber Buddies.

The default in the Messages app is that all other non iMessages accounts have Buddy lists.

This are displayed as a Combined Buddy list using the Window Menu > Buddies.

They can be unlinked in the General Section of the Preferences.

The Messages Window which acts as an Interface to start New Messages and is also a Tabbed Chat display (when there are chats) does not default to any one type of account.

There is a New Messages icon top left of the Messages window.

Using this will add a Chat listing to the top of the left hand side where chats are listed.

You can now see and use a blue + icon top right

This gives you access to either Contacts (Contacts App formerly the Address Book) or Buddies.

If you have Groups in the Contacts app then this appears in the blue + button options as well.

IF you pick a Contact then their Address Card name is placed in the "To" field.

Their Name is then a drop down and will show you both iMessage options and Buddy list options if their Address Card contains both sorts of info.

Alternatively you can type a Name straight in the "To" field and then select the name you want from the Suggestions.

If I type in my Own name it starts listing all three computers Address Cards but with my Apple ID and iPhone Numbers as well as AIM and Jabber names as Options.

Picking my iMac account I can then see this

My "alternative" Apple ID is listed on this card.

My iPhone Number is

My Land line number is shown as an Unconfirmed iMessages possible

I then list several AIM Valid Names with one "From" name.

I don't actually list any Jabber valid IDs on this card or it would show those as well.

The Pic shows the iMessages selected as I clicked on it in the previous names possibles screen.

For Contacts/iMessages you should be using the Messages Windows and it's interface functions rather than any Buddy list.

9:04 PM Wednesday; February 13, 2013

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 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
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously