$15 US Text Add-On useless for iPhone users. Others have similar experience?

[MartyH]

I purchased the $15 U.S. Text add-on for my iPhone while traveling in the U.S., intending to use it for texting (SMS) with family and for receiving two-factor authentication codes.

Here’s what happened:

1. Sending messages worked fine: I could send SMS messages from my iPhone to other iPhones in the U.S., and they received them immediately.
2. Receiving messages failed: When my contacts replied to my messages, I did not receive any incoming texts unless I was connected to Wi-Fi.
3. iMessage interference: Even after turning off iMessage and following all suggested steps to deregister my phone number from iMessage, replies still did not reliably arrive. Old group chats continued to default to iMessage, which prevented SMS delivery.
4. One-way texting: Overall, the plan resulted in a one-way texting experience — I could send messages, but not receive them without Wi-Fi.

Impact:

• Could not rely on the U.S. texting plan for communication with family or for receiving important two-factor authentication codes.
• Created confusion and frustration while traveling.

Device: iPhone SE (2020), iOS 18.6.2

Plan: $15 U.S. Text-Only Add-On

Summary:

This plan appears to be incompatible with iPhones for receiving SMS messages reliably in the U.S. It works partially for sending texts, but incoming messages often fail unless connected to Wi-Fi, making the plan essentially useless for iPhone users.

[MartyH]

Yes you are right. This is what I discovered. I did turn off iMessages to force SMS, and they could receive my messages, but when they tried to reply I wouldn’t get them. Their iPhones were remembering that we initiated the chat with iMessages always default to that, which wouldn’t work. I ended up buying a Data plan with Airelo and now working fine. I was cheaper than the PubMob add on.

[MartyH]

Thanks for tip, but I did try that and it didn’t work for me.

[slusagm]

@MartyH 

you are trying to send iMessage and Group Chat , which uses iMessage.  Buying Roaming Talk/Text is not enough because iMessage uses data.  You need to buy the Roaming bundle which include data.   

What you can do is to turn off iMessage and send only text (SMS).   Again, existing Group Chat might still not work, when your friends reply, iPhone still will try to send you through iMessage even your iMessage is disabled

[ORNGNBLK]

@MartyH   I can tell you from one experience that had, my contacts were able to text me back if they added a 1 before my number.  I’m actually not sure if they manually entered it, or that’s how I am saved in their contacts etc.  
I too have an iPhone. I am heading to US this weekend and will test again and get back to you here.  In the meantime, you can try to get reimbursed from PM by stating your case to them and if they agree that you did not get what you paid for (ie: faulty service) you may get refunded.  Worth a shot for sure. 

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