MacMost Q&A Forum • View All Forum QuestionsAsk a Question

Can Messages Be Configured On iPhone To Only Receive Texts From iMessage Users?

I am an iPhone 4 (not 4s) user running iOS 5.0.1 with Verizon as my service provider.
I rarely use the text messaging feature but like to keep it enabled so I can send/receive texts when it is appropriate.
Once in a while I get a spam text message from some unknown source advertising some dubious service. Since I am not on a plan where I pay for a block of text messages, I have to pay 20 cents for each such unwanted message.
Verizon does provide ways to block messages from specific senders and to block messages “from the internet” but I would like to find a better way.
Is there a way to configure things on the iPhone to only receive texts from other iMessage users? Alternatively, is there a way to set things up to only receive texts from numbers in my Contacts?
—–
Richard Fuhr

Comments: 2 Responses to “Can Messages Be Configured On iPhone To Only Receive Texts From iMessage Users?”

    12 years ago

    Verizon doesn't have any way to complain about unwanted text messages? They must. AT&T has a number you can text when you get spam. Not only does this alert them to the spammer, but I'm pretty sure you get your 20 cents back. (See http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB115812)
    Basically you forward the spam to 7726. Then you get a message back from AT&T asking you for the sender's number. I've used it many times.
    I'm not a Verizon customer, but according to this page they do let you block unwanted text messages, and perhaps report them:
    http://text1.vzw.com/text/jsp/text_messaging_preferences.jsp
    I suppose what you can do is to see if Verizon has an option to disable text messages completely. Then the Messages app should just get messages sent through the iMessage interface. I haven't heard of much spam being sent through iMessage yet.

    Richard Fuhr
    12 years ago

    Gary,

    You are correct that Verizon provides a way to block certain categories of text messages but it is not an airtight method. One can block text messages sent through the internet or via email, and you can retroactively block messages sent from a specified number (but that is only effective for 90 days).

    I went to a local Verizon office yesterday to ask them if there is anything else I should do, and they suggested replying back to the senders of the unwanted text messages asking them to stop. However, I believe that responding to the spam is more likely to result in more text spam rather than less.

Comments Closed.