topic Re: Send and receive text via internet in Get Support

Send and receive text via internet

Colette_L — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 17:26:56 GMT

At times I have no service but have internet, is there a way I can send and receive text via internet ?

Re: Send and receive text via internet

gblackma — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 20:23:36 GMT

@Colette_L if on an android phone, Google hangouts and Google dialer combined, add the free voip apps TextNow or Fongo, If on an Iphone use Imessage. Welcome to the community. Stay safe.

Re: Send and receive text via internet

Colette_L — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 20:32:53 GMT

I have an Android phone. I would like to retrieve my text from my cell phone number. Can I do that with those apps?

Re: Send and receive text via internet

esjliv — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 20:46:30 GMT

Hi @Colette_L ,

I use Messages for Web "https://messages.google.com/".

I would prefer to use this anytime I have a computer/laptop screen for texting.

It is great!

Re: Send and receive text via internet

gblackma — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 20:49:19 GMT

No @Colette_L . What TextNow and Fongo would allow you to do is to send a message to your contacts telling them to text/ call you on that number. Stay safe.

Re: Send and receive text via internet

esjliv — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 20:52:21 GMT

I too am an android user @Colette_L and https://messages.google.com/ works great for me. Although you say you want to use it when you do not have service...why are you not getting service?

I use this app, and it works great; but my phone still has services when I use it.

Try this app and let me know how it works for you.

Re: Send and receive text via internet

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 20:58:31 GMT

@Colette_L wrote:
At times I have no service but have internet, is there a way I can send and receive text via internet ?

Yeah...email... 🙂

But seriously... from email you can _send_ to

10 digit number@msg.telusmobility.com

From texting app you can _send_ to

email address

Replies are harder to do after receiving on the phone. You need to use the email address again.

Replies are fine on the email side.

Things convert to MMS along the way.

Re: Send and receive text via internet

johnpublic — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 21:08:06 GMT

yes if you have internet you send message that same way that if you are using data on the phone.

Re: Send and receive text via internet

geopublic — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 22:31:35 GMT

@Colette_L if you are using Android you can use Messages with enabled RCS to be able to use it over the Internet provided that the other party is also using RCS.

Re: Send and receive text via internet

popping — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 21:47:58 GMT

@Colette_L

I use WhatsApp to send text message as well as picture/video message using Wifi or mobile data. WhatsApp is using your phone number. But you friend and family need also on WhatsApp. It is good when you travel. You friends and family can still contact you even if you are using a local SIM card with a local phone number at your travel destination.

Re: Send and receive text via internet

Colette_L — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 21:47:08 GMT

Thanks everyone for suggestions. My understanding is if I don't have service I can not access my text messages through wifi.

Re: Send and receive text via internet

gblackma — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 21:53:02 GMT

Yes @Colette_L but the messages should be kept for at least 3 days on the server. So once you get back service within that time, you should be able to see them. Stay safe.

Re: Send and receive text via internet

popping — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 21:53:30 GMT

@Colette_L wrote:
Thanks everyone for suggestions. My understanding is if I don't have service I can not access my text messages through wifi.

Correct. Text message is send over by piggyback on the cellular voice channel. You may still try to send text even you phone has zero bar.

That is the reason why all my family member has WhatsApp installed. It works across iPhone and Android phone.

Re: Send and receive text via internet

gpixel — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 21:53:19 GMT

@Colette_L what's the make and model of your device?

Re: Send and receive text via internet

Colette_L — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 22:04:43 GMT

I have a Pixel 2

Re: Send and receive text via internet

gpixel — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 22:06:59 GMT

@Colette_L very nice!! I have the 4. and that means you can use RCS. which uses data or wifi to send texts

open the messages app
click the 3 dots on the top right
tap on "settings"
tap on "chat features"
enable chat features

Re: Send and receive text via internet

Colette_L — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 22:09:03 GMT

RCS?

Re: Send and receive text via internet

gblackma — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 22:15:33 GMT

@gpixel FMI can someone not on RCS get messages from a phone sending via RCS? Thanks in advance.

Re: Send and receive text via internet

gpixel — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 05:53:55 GMT

@Colette_L yes, it's like iMessage

RCS (Rich Communications Services) is a next-generation SMS protocol being championed by the GSMA, Google & Android, Samsung, and many carriers and mobile phone

put your phone in airplane mode and test it out.

this will not work.. to test, disable your mobile data. you need a network connection as it uses your mobile phone number to enable chat features. the recipient also needs to have RCS enabled

there is also the "messages for web" feature when you first click the 3 dots in the app. like others have mentioned

Re: Send and receive text via internet

NDesai — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 01:39:02 GMT

The only way to receive texts via internet is to use RCS. Both parties must have this feature enabled. If you enable it, but the recipient does not have it enabled, your text will go through as SMS which will fail to send due to no network service. Some phones do not yet offer this feature so that's another downside. (cc @gblackma @gpixel )

@Colette_L Are you completely not getting any service in that area? May be reaching out to someone from Telus can think about extending the coverage if there is a need or something might not be working properly in that area?