I have iOS 5 on my iPhone 3GS and have attempted to use iMessage to text another person using the iOS 5 system but the text is enclosed in a green bubble instead of a blue bubble. It is my understanding that text inside a green bubble signifies that I am in the pay-to-text mode. I do not want to pay to text someone. What am I doing wrong? Perhaps, Gary, you could show us how to use iMessage via one of your wonderful podcasts.
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Shirley Hershey
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How Do I Use iMessage?
Comments: 9 Responses to “How Do I Use iMessage?”
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You need to simply text them at their Apple ID email address that they have used to sign up for iMessage. They can also choose to select other email addresses it "receive" at. So find out what that address is and use it instead of a phone number.
Add that email address to your Contact for that person and I believe that when you use the Messages app with that person's name it will automatically choose iMessage as the delivery instead of SMS. You will see it say "iMessage" above the start of a conversation over iMessage as opposed to "Text Message" above a conversation in SMS mode. The text is pretty small and hard to miss. It is right above the first bubble in the conversation.
Hello Shirley,
When composing a iMessage to some one, it verifies that the number or email is activated (used) via iMessage. Suppose if the number you are sending have not activated iMessage on his or her iOS device, it go as normal Text message. If the number you are sending have iMessage activated for his or her number than it should go as (blue colored) iMessage. I think the number you are trying to send doesn't got iMessage activated.
Also, if you send to an email address that is an Apple ID, but iMessage hasn't been set up for that person yet, I think they get an email instead of a text message. So you are always safe by sending to their email address.
Also have you turned on iMessage in settings> messages ?
I get iMessage even though i don't use their email add. As long as they have iOS 5 it is ok...
By using imessage doesn't it go towards your text message usages?
No. That's pretty much the point of iMessage. It goes over the Internet, not your mobile carrier's SMS network. Doesn't cost a penny and you can do it with devices that aren't even connected to a telephone company network (iPad or iPod Touch with no 3G for instance).
Gary is it best to use your email address instead of phone number when setting up account for iMessage? Can you explain the deference, Thanks
Use both. You want to make sure that people who don't know your email address (or at least don't think to use your email address when sending you a SMS message) get to you.