Hitthetarget2
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: how do I use iMessage without a sim card

Hi all

 

We upgraded to a iphone 6 and would like to gift our old iPhone 5 (16GB) to our son to work as an wifi only "itouch".   It has the old SIM no-longer-activated SIM card in it.  We reset the device to factory settings (running software 9.2), set up a an iCloud acct for him under the family plan.    Have been able to set up email and verify working, and other basic apps seem to work fine.  so far, so good......except

 

we cannot get iMessage to work correctly.    It can send text messages to other iPhones, but cannot seem to send them to non-apple iPhones.    We thought it might be a proprietary issued that Apple created intentionally, so we have tried to find alternative text apps (Whatsapp, next+), but have had no luck setting these up  without a phone number (and we don't have one for him - it "went" to the new iPhone 6 when we upgraded).

 

Q1:  How do we get iMessage to be able to send/receive text messages to/from non-apple devices?  (seems like we should be able to link through his iCloud email account, but no luck so far).  

Q2:  Alternatively, what  3rd party text app can we get to work without having a phone number on this device?   Don't mind paying for the app, but needs not to charge by the message. 

 

There are many related threads to this, and I have tried several of the tips suggested, but thus far no joy.   If this is covered in some other thread (with really clear instructions or suggestions), please point me on my way. 

 

Thanks in advance

iPhone 5, iOS 9.2

Posted on Dec 24, 2015 8:19 PM

by Meg St._Clair,Apple recommended
Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair
Level 9 (58,917 points)
iPhone
A:

Hitthetarget2 wrote:

 

Not willing to give in yet.   I keep looking at the Apple documentation for the iPod touch, which seems to indicate that it can use iMessage for sending texts.

Then I think you're misunderstanding something that you're reading. I'm not trying to be rude or anything but, in order to send a text over SMS, you need to have a cellular voice connection.

 

Just some points of clarification: There is no app called "iMessage". The app is called "Messages" and, on the iPhone, sends both SMS (standard old text messages) and iMessages (to other Apple devices). An iPhone can send both SMS and iMessages because it has both a cellular data and a cellular voice connection. The iPod cannot be used to send SMS (without some sort of third party app), because it doesn't have a cellular voice connection.

 

Larry's recommendation of Skype is excellent. 

Posted on Dec 25, 2015 12:55 PM

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Q: how do I use iMessage without a sim card

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Dec 25, 2015 6:49 AM in response to Hitthetarget2
    Level 9 (58,917 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 25, 2015 6:49 AM in response to Hitthetarget2

    Hitthetarget2 wrote:

     

    we cannot get iMessage to work correctly.    It can send text messages to other iPhones, but cannot seem to send them to non-apple iPhones.    We thought it might be a proprietary issued that Apple created intentionally, so we have tried to find alternative text apps (Whatsapp, next+), but have had no luck setting these up  without a phone number (and we don't have one for him - it "went" to the new iPhone 6 when we upgraded).

    It sound as if Messages (the app) is working correctly. iMessages only work between iPhones, iPads, Mac computers and iPods. SMS messages, the ones to non-iPhones, require a cellular voice connections, something the phone you gave your phone no longer has. This would be true of any phone, whether it's an iPhone, Android or basic phone. Without a cellular voice connection, no SMS. So, this has nothing to do with Apple preventing you from using something.

     

    Most of the kinds of apps you're talking about, as you've discovered, require a phone number. You might try Facebook messenger. It doesn't allow SMS messages but, it's quite possible that a lot of your sons friends have access to it. I don't think that it requires a phone number.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Dec 25, 2015 7:04 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 8 (37,982 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 25, 2015 7:04 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Skype works without a phone number.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Dec 25, 2015 7:22 AM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 9 (58,917 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 25, 2015 7:22 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

    Lawrence Finch wrote:

     

    Skype works without a phone number.

    I knew I was missing something important! Still waiting for the coffee to brew!

  • by Hitthetarget2,

    Hitthetarget2 Hitthetarget2 Dec 25, 2015 9:58 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 25, 2015 9:58 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    thanks Meg

     

    Not willing to give in yet.   I keep looking at the Apple documentation for the iPod touch, which seems to indicate that it can use iMessage for sending texts.  It does note that it will be free with other apple devices, and that carrier charges may apply when going elsewhere, but it seems to indicate that it should work.    http://www.apple.com/ios/messages/

     

    As the iPod touch is a wifi only device, and you do not get (as far as I can tell) a phone number, how are they setting this up.   Maybe it is just that I am trying to use an old iPhone as, effectively, a touch.

     

    Any other clues (from anyone)??????

     

    Thanks in advance

  • by Meg St._Clair,Apple recommended

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Dec 25, 2015 12:55 PM in response to Hitthetarget2
    Level 9 (58,917 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 25, 2015 12:55 PM in response to Hitthetarget2

    Hitthetarget2 wrote:

     

    Not willing to give in yet.   I keep looking at the Apple documentation for the iPod touch, which seems to indicate that it can use iMessage for sending texts.

    Then I think you're misunderstanding something that you're reading. I'm not trying to be rude or anything but, in order to send a text over SMS, you need to have a cellular voice connection.

     

    Just some points of clarification: There is no app called "iMessage". The app is called "Messages" and, on the iPhone, sends both SMS (standard old text messages) and iMessages (to other Apple devices). An iPhone can send both SMS and iMessages because it has both a cellular data and a cellular voice connection. The iPod cannot be used to send SMS (without some sort of third party app), because it doesn't have a cellular voice connection.

     

    Larry's recommendation of Skype is excellent. 

  • by Lyssa,

    Lyssa Lyssa Dec 25, 2015 1:06 PM in response to Hitthetarget2
    Level 6 (17,893 points)
    Dec 25, 2015 1:06 PM in response to Hitthetarget2

    Meg is correct here.

     

    Apple's documentation is using unclear wording for the situation. I'm sure they're trying to simplify things, but that can make everything a little hazy sometimes if the wording is bad.

     

    The Messages app is used for sending iMessages (blue bubble, between iOS devices) as well as SMS texts (green bubble, non-iOS devices/users not using iMessage).

     

    This article shows the difference between the two: Use Messages with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

     

    Note where it says "To use SMS/MMS, you need a text-messaging plan. Contact your carrier for more information."

     

    Sending messages to Android users, Windows phone users, and iPhone users who are not using iMessage requires a text messaging plan, unless you are using another app to send such messages.

     

    This post from Texas Mac Man over in the iPad forum has some info for sending texts from iPads (scroll to the lower portion of the post). This may be of use to you with your son's phone. My iPad won't send text messages??

     

    ~Lyssa

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Dec 25, 2015 1:14 PM in response to Hitthetarget2
    Level 9 (58,917 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 25, 2015 1:14 PM in response to Hitthetarget2

    Lyssa phrased it all much more nicely than I did.

  • by Lyssa,

    Lyssa Lyssa Dec 25, 2015 9:29 PM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 6 (17,893 points)
    Dec 25, 2015 9:29 PM in response to Meg St._Clair

    I'm all for simplification, but, sometimes, companies take that a little too far, and it gets tough to explain how stuff is supposed to work when the terms I want to use don't match what the company has chosen.

     

    Hopefully this has helped some.

     

    And Merry Christmas

     

    ~Lyssa