Q: How does Messages work with SMS?
I'm trying to understand how Messages works:
1) does it show only special Apple messages, or do regular SMS messages come here also? Can I send text messages to phones that may not be iPhones? I just got an SMS on my iPhone that didn't show up on the Messages application I have open on my MacBook Air.
2) The Dock icon for my open Messages application has a little red "1" on it, but I don't see a new message in Messages - how do I tell which are new, unread messages?
3) once I'm signed in to Messages, can I make and take calls on my OS X 10.9.5 laptop through my iPhone on the same wifi network?
Posted on Dec 31, 2015 5:08 PM
1) does it show only special Apple messages, or do regular SMS messages come here also? Can I send text messages to phones that may not be iPhones? I just got an SMS on my iPhone that didn't show up on the Messages application I have open on my MacBook Air.
Apple Messages on a Mac talks to other Apple Messages clients via Apple's Messages server.
The Mac Messages app and Apple's Messages server does NOT do SMS.
It is possible to configure the Mac Messages app to talk to other Messaging servers, such as AOL Instant Messager (AIM), Google Talk, Yahoo, Jabber, etc... Users that use these other instant messaging services can see your messages on whatever devices support those services.
But ONLY Apple devices support the end-to-end encrypted Apple Messages protocol.
In Yosemite 10.10 or newer OS X version, IF AND ONLY IF, you have an iPhone running iOS 8 or newer, you can setup up Continuity which will, if your iPhone is on the same local network as your Mac, will allow the Mac's Messages to send SMS via the iPhone and whatever carrier your iPhone is using for SMS.
<Use Continuity to connect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac - Apple Support>
2) The Dock icon for my open Messages application has a little red "1" on it, but I don't see a new message in Messages - how do I tell which are new, unread messages?
The badge is suppose to indicate there is something for you to read.
3) once I'm signed in to Messages, can I make and take calls on my OS X 10.9.5 laptop through my iPhone on the same wifi network?
No. You need Yosemite 10.10 or newer to use Continuity.
<Use Continuity to connect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac - Apple Support>
NOTE: Continuity also works with other iOS devices (iPads, iPod Touches) which are running iOS 8 or newer (my Wife does this using an iPod Touch when her iPhone is in her purse in another part of the house).
Posted on Dec 31, 2015 6:34 PM


