Texting with android phone and also using iPad

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Level 1

8 points

Texting with android phone and also using iPad

I have an Android phone (Galaxy Note4) and an iPad (4th generation, just prior to the "Air" series).

I use text messaging a lot and really would like to be able to get my texts on both devices using the android phone number. In the past, I used an app called "TextNow" that assigns you a unique number and sync's it with both devices from either the Apple app store or Google Play. This worked fine... I would get all my texts on both devices pretty seamlessly.

I also looked at Google Hangouts and the ability to have multiple devices receiving texts had been "fixed" in a recent update to Hangouts. So, Hangouts no longer allows multiple devices of different platforms to access texts to the same number.

My question is... is there an app in both the app store and google play that will allow you to send and receive texts using the cell phone number rather than it having to generate a new number?

Posted on Sep 21, 2016 7:18 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 22, 2016 7:57 PM in response to Bpatton1

If you happen to be in the U.S. and your carrier happens to be Verizon, you can use the Verizon Messages app to get your SMS messages on your iPad. If you have a different carrier, you may want to check with them to see if they have a similar option.

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Answer 2

Sep 22, 2016 8:02 PM in response to Bpatton1

Bpatton1 wrote:

Chris, I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't as clear as I could have been. My iPad actually has wifi access ability and the ability to connect via my Verizon 4G network. So, in a nutshell - no, it doesn't need to go thru my phone to send or receive messages. I'd like an app the utilizes my actual cell phone number that will route text messages to both devices - if there is such an app. It needs to work with android (from google play) and IOS 10.1 which I just installed on my iPad.``

Yes, it's called Verizon Messages. Search the App Store for "Verizon".

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Answer 3

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,309 points

Sep 22, 2016 5:36 PM in response to Bpatton1

I am not aware of something that does not require the other party to also have the same app, something such as WhatsApp. The ability to text on the iPad is dependent on the device connecting to an iPhone, since it uses the iPhone to actually send the text. You can just forward the texts to the iPad.

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Answer 4

Bpatton1 Author

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8 points

Sep 22, 2016 5:48 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Chris, I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't as clear as I could have been. My iPad actually has wifi access ability and the ability to connect via my Verizon 4G network. So, in a nutshell - no, it doesn't need to go thru my phone to send or receive messages. I'd like an app the utilizes my actual cell phone number that will route text messages to both devices - if there is such an app. It needs to work with android (from google play) and IOS 10.1 which I just installed on my iPad.

Google Allo may have promise - currently you can't install it on multiple devices. There seems to be an issue with registering each installation and fails... I know its only version 1 and may be the app I'm looking for once some issues are ironed out.

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Answer 5

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,309 points

Sep 22, 2016 6:47 PM in response to Bpatton1

Actually, the number assigned to your iPad is not an actual phone number that can be used for texting purposes, it is only an account number. The cellular capabilities of the iPad are for data only, not SMS/MMS. I am also not aware of a way to connect an iPad and Android device together to sync messages in that manner.

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Answer 6

Bpatton1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 22, 2016 8:00 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Thanks Chris.

I'm currently using "TextNow" and have installed it on both my phone and iPad. It generates a number that the 2 (or more) devices use. When I text someone (they don't have to have "TextNow" installed on their device(s) - I can just text to their phone number and it sends SMS/MMS to that number. If someone texts me, I ask them to use my texting number (the number TextNow generated for me) and I get their texts on both devices - I can choose which device I want to respond on and the texts all appear on both my devices (cell phone and iPad). The only catch is that for texting, they have to use that number generated by TextNow - I wish there were an app that did the same but, allowed usage of the actual cell phone number instead of a generated number. Have a nice evening Chris!

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Answer 7

Bpatton1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 22, 2016 8:44 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Okay, I downloaded and installed that on both the cell phone and my iPad - Verizon Messages is the answer since my carrier is Verizon. I now get my texts on both devices using just my cell phone number. Thank you both for your inputs.

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Answer 8

Sep 23, 2016 4:50 AM in response to Bpatton1

Glad it helped.

FYI, you can also download the app for your computer (or use the web interface). This was a lifesaver when my phone was out of commission during a couple of hours when I was trying to make evening plans. You can also use this if you're traveling abroad and only have access to WiFi. While you're on WiFi, you can check your SMS messages from your tablet without incurring international SMS chargers.

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Answer 9

Bpatton1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 23, 2016 10:03 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

I also heard of an app called "PushBullet" that will do this too. So, in the event someone has the same question but doesn't have unlimited texting through Verizon, "PushBullet" might be the solution. Have a good day and thanks for your help.

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Answer 10

Sep 23, 2016 4:55 PM in response to Bpatton1

If I recall correctly. PushBullet just pushes notifications. Additionally, the advantage to Verizon Messages is that it links directly to Verizon, it doesn't require your phone to be on or connected to the network.

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