What is iMessage?

[Chris Pisarra]

So sometimes my text messages are in blue, indicating iMessage, I guess.

What is it? Do I care? Does it make a difference to me in any way? Can I
choose to use it instead of regular texting? Why would I? Or why wouldn't
I?

This seems like a distinction without a difference.

Chris

[Jolly Roger]

In article <jeisa9$46g$1...@speranza.aioe.org>,

Answers to all of your questions are here:
<http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=iMessage>

--
Send responses to the relevant news group rather than email to me.
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM
filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting
messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google
Groups. Use a real news client if you want me to see your posts.

JR

[BreadW...@fractious.net]

Michelle Steiner <mich...@michelle.org> writes:
> In article <jeisa9$46g$1...@speranza.aioe.org>,
> "Chris Pisarra" <Ch...@Pisarra.com> wrote:
>

>> So sometimes my text messages are in blue, indicating iMessage, I guess.
>> What is it? Do I care? Does it make a difference to me in any way?

> If you have unlimited texting, it won't make a difference, but if you have
> limited texting or strictly pay per text, iMessage can save you money.

It adds a bunch of features above and beyond traditional SMS (or
even MMS) messaging.

For one, the "address" which routes a message may be the
cell-phone number, like traditional messages -- but it also
may be any e-mail address you (or the recipient) has registered
with Apple. That's how iMessage messages get to folks who
have iPads and iPod Touch devices. You may register as many
e-mail addresses as you like.

iMessage messages travel over your internet connection (if
you have 3G, it'll use that, if you have wifi, it'll use that).

It's possible to have read-receipts in iMessage (not that I'm
sure why anyone would actually use them).

When you are typing, the recipient will see "..." showing them so.

Messages are not limited to 140 chars.

It's possible to have a multi-person chat.

There are probably other things, but that's all I can think
at the moment.

Oh, and, of course, it's free - unlike SMS (which is one of
the most astounding rip-offs I've ever seen - the phone
companies have been making out like bandits on that).

--
Plain Bread alone for e-mail, thanks. The rest gets trashed.

[Howard Brazee]

On Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:34:18 -0700, Michelle Steiner
<mich...@michelle.org> wrote:

>In article <jeisa9$46g$1...@speranza.aioe.org>,
> "Chris Pisarra" <Ch...@Pisarra.com> wrote:
>

>> So sometimes my text messages are in blue, indicating iMessage, I guess.
>>
>> What is it? Do I care? Does it make a difference to me in any way? Can I
>> choose to use it instead of regular texting? Why would I? Or why wouldn't
>> I?
>

>If you have unlimited texting, it won't make a difference, but if you have
>limited texting or strictly pay per text, iMessage can save you money.

I don't have texting at all. It would cost an extra $10/month for
the minimum amount of texting. But I can text my daughter who has
an iPhone because iMessage doesn't use Verizon's texting. Her
daughters want me to have conventional texting though.

I can even use iMessage with my wi-fi iPad. My hope is that a
universal app comes out that works with competitor's devices - causing
the phone companies' texting model to die.

--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."

- James Madison

[Chris Blunt]

On Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:22:20 -0500, BreadW...@fractious.net wrote:

>Michelle Steiner <mich...@michelle.org> writes:
>> In article <jeisa9$46g$1...@speranza.aioe.org>,
>> "Chris Pisarra" <Ch...@Pisarra.com> wrote:
>>
>>> So sometimes my text messages are in blue, indicating iMessage, I guess.
>>> What is it? Do I care? Does it make a difference to me in any way?
>
>> If you have unlimited texting, it won't make a difference, but if you have
>> limited texting or strictly pay per text, iMessage can save you money.
>
>It adds a bunch of features above and beyond traditional SMS (or
>even MMS) messaging.
>
>For one, the "address" which routes a message may be the
>cell-phone number, like traditional messages -- but it also
>may be any e-mail address you (or the recipient) has registered
>with Apple. That's how iMessage messages get to folks who
>have iPads and iPod Touch devices. You may register as many
>e-mail addresses as you like.

Where do you register those email addresses?

I have my main email address registered as my Apple ID, so I assume
Apple would know about that. When I registered for iCloud I was also
allocated a new email in the format x...@me.com, so perhaps that is
another.

If my iPhone is switched off and someone sends me an iMessage, would
that be delivered to one of my email addresses? There more I delve
into this iMessage stuff the more I realise how little I understand
the mechanics of what is actually going on.

Chris

[DevilsPGD]

In message <1asrg75ijs4bk933r...@4ax.com> someone claiming
to be Chris Blunt <ma...@nospam.com> typed:

>If my iPhone is switched off and someone sends me an iMessage, would
>that be delivered to one of my email addresses? There more I delve
>into this iMessage stuff the more I realise how little I understand
>the mechanics of what is actually going on.

No, you won't receive anything via email. Email addresses are just used
as identifiers.

--
It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to
steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

[BreadW...@fractious.net]

Chris Blunt <ma...@nospam.com> writes:
> On Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:22:20 -0500, BreadW...@fractious.net wrote:

>>For one, the "address" which routes a message may be the
>>cell-phone number, like traditional messages -- but it also
>>may be any e-mail address you (or the recipient) has registered

> Where do you register those email addresses?

Settings->Messages->Receive At

You put in an e-mail address, Apple sends e-mail to that
address to confirm, then it's activated.

> I have my main email address registered as my Apple ID, so I assume
> Apple would know about that. When I registered for iCloud I was also
> allocated a new email in the format x...@me.com, so perhaps that is
> another.

It should, but you can add any e-mail addresses you like.

> If my iPhone is switched off and someone sends me an iMessage, would
> that be delivered to one of my email addresses? There more I delve

No. The e-mail address is just an identifier. As far as I
know, the only time it's used by iMessage is the one time, when
you register that e-mail address to link it to your account,
to confirm it. After that, the address is just an identifier
used to route iMessage messages to the Message app, not e-mail.

[dee...@drypin.com]

imessage is an app that works with iPhone, iPad, iPod-touch and Mac also. You can send text message, video, audio and contact with wi-fi from this app
Source: http://drypin.com/?p=198

[badgolferman]

Michelle Steiner wrote:

>In article <jeisa9$46g$1...@speranza.aioe.org>,
> "Chris Pisarra" <Ch...@Pisarra.com> wrote:
>

>If you send a txt via iMessage, it goes through Apple's iMessage
>network instead of your cell company's text message service. So it
>doesn't count against your text message allocation. (OF course, if
>you have unlimited texting, that doesn't matter.) If you're in an
>area where you have WiFi, but no cell signal, you can send an
>iMessage, but not a conventional text message.
>
>And therein lie the differences.

How does my phone know who has an iPhone when I send them a message?
If I send someone a text message for the first time somehow it gets
switched to an iMessage. The same happens when someone sends me a
message for the first time from another iPhone.

Why do all these Apple devices have a small *i* in front of their name
anyway? I remember the original iMac but am not sure of the
significance of the small i. Is that supposed to signify *internet* ?

[JF Mezei]

badgolferman wrote:

> How does my phone know who has an iPhone when I send them a message?

When your phone is on, it registers tself to Apple as being "on". (This
was one f the original innovations from Apple who provided a single push
server so that all apps would go through the Apple server so there would
be only one TCP link active to send notifications).

So Apple knows about which of its phones are on at any point in time.

You type in a phone number, it gets sent to Apple, Apple then responds
with "yep, I can do that iMessage because the destination is on-line
with me right now" or "sorry, you have to use SMS because that phone
number isn't on right now.

[badgolferman]

So every SMS message I send is accepted or rejected by the Apple
servers first even before my carrier? And then people complain about
Google invading privacy....

[JF Mezei]

badgolferman wrote:

> So every SMS message I send is accepted or rejected by the Apple
> servers first even before my carrier? And then people complain about
> Google invading privacy....

Note quite the message. your iPhone verifies with Apple if the
destination phone number is reacheable via iMessage or if it needs to
use the carrier's SMS system. The message is then sent once to the
appropriate system.

[ZZH...@yahoo.com]

Before you complain about invasion of privacy, bear in mind your
cell phone carrier knows when your phone is turned on, and where
it is. It has to so it can route incoming calls to your phone or to
voicemail.

If you want complete privacy on your cell phone, turn it off.

.

[nospam]

In article <slrnkavopq....@mbp55.local>, Lewis
<g.k...@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:

> iMessages are always free, SMS messages can be astonishingly expensive
> sometimes.

maybe even 50 cents each! oh no!

if you think that is astonishingly expensive then you need a higher
paying job or a better cellphone plan.

anyone who uses sms more than occasionally should be on an texting plan
and won't incur much expense at all (i.e. none if you pick unlimited).

[Chris Blunt]

Apple may know which of its iPhone are switched on, but how does it
associate a phone number with each of those devices?

The telephone number is allocated to each phone operating on a network
by the carrier whose SIM is in the phone. The phone itself can usually
determine what number it is associated with, but this is not always
the case.

Chris

[JF Mezei]

On 12-11-25 03:07, Lewis wrote:

>> The telephone number is allocated to each phone operating on a network
>> by the carrier whose SIM is in the phone.

> And completely irrelevant in this case.


It is relevant. When you enter 800-555-1234 as SMS destination number,
Apple has to check whether that phone is connected to the iMessage
system at the moment.

And this means that Apple's iMessage database has to contain the
relationship between the phone and the phone number.

Whether this relationship is established when you setup the iMessage on
your phone once, or whether it is transmitted everytime your phone
connects to iMessage, I do not know. But Apple can know and must know
the relationship between your phone, your appleID and the phone number
on your SIM card.

[JF Mezei]

On 12-11-25 15:07, Michelle Steiner wrote:

> Wrong; it doesn't matter whether the phone is on or off. All phone, iPad,
> and/or iMac needs is for the user to register it with the iMessages service.


Are you sure of that ? How long does Apple garantee it will hold
undelivered messages for before a user gets back "on-line" ?

[JF Mezei]

On 12-11-25 15:10, Michelle Steiner wrote:
> Mezei doesn't know what he's jabbering about. If the number you're sending
> the message to isn't registered with the iMessage service, the message will
> be sent as a carrier TXT message; if it is registered, it will be sent over
> the iMessage network. There's no invasion of privacy.


Gratuitous insults aside, the sending phone must still check with Apple
by giving it the destination phone number in order to know whether that
destination can be reacheable via iMessage or if the phone sends it via SMS.

The Apple "push server" has knowledge of all the idevices who currently
have data turned on because when connected to a network, the iDevice
establishes a TCP session with the Apple push server so that apple knows
which IP address the phone can be reached at to deliver push
notifications (which is the underlying trigger to deliver iMessages)

[JF Mezei]

On 12-11-25 17:37, Michelle Steiner wrote:

> Right, and that has nothing to do with whether the phone is turned on or
> not. You are totally wrong about that.

Check out the push notification system. Thinking about it, because
iMessage is supposed to be able to deliver messages when the phone is
asleep and wake it up, it would mean that IOS now maintains the link to
the push server all the time even while asleep.


However, when the phone is offline (no cell service and no wi-fi, then
the link to push notification is broken and iMessage cannot deliver to
the destination.

One would have to test this by putting the destination phone in
"airplane mode" for a few minutes and then attempting to send a text
message to that phone to see.

In fact, you should try to send a "rich" text message (one with stuff
you can't send via SMS) and see if Apple will eventually deliver it to
the intended recipient or if the sender's phone will immediatly say that
you can only send text to that destination at the moment.

Apple would need to have one hell of a SMS processing system around to
handle store and forward for the hundreds of millions of iphones around
the world.

[David Empson]

This has nothing to do with the question of whether the iMessage service
keeps track of the online status of iPhones, but to answer the last
paragraph:

The mechanism used to associate a telephone number with an Apple ID for
iMessage is that the iPhone sends a silent SMS during initial
registration for iMessage on the iPhone. That SMS tells Apple your
iPhone's phone number.

It is mentioned in passing on this troubleshooting page:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4268

See the "Troubleshooting telephone-number activation (iPhone only)"
section.

After the phone number is registered with iMessage, other iPhone users
can send you an iMessage by addressing it to either your telephone
number or your Apple ID. If a telephone number is used, the sending
iPhone must check with the iMessage servers and if the destination
number is not known, it reverts to sending an SMS.

I don't know offhand how often the iPhone checks the destination number
for iMessage support, but it might be as often as once each day for each
destination number.

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

[DevilsPGD]

In the last episode of
<50b2a446$0$1465$c3e8da3$12bc...@news.astraweb.com>, JF Mezei

<jfmezei...@vaxination.ca> said:

>Apple would need to have one hell of a SMS processing system around to
>handle store and forward for the hundreds of millions of iphones around
>the world.

They do. And it works as well as all of Apple's attempts to run web
services, which is to say that it has semi-frequent outages but mostly
works alright.

--
The nice thing about standards, there is enough for everyone to have their own.

[JF Mezei]

On 12-11-25 18:12, Michelle Steiner wrote:

> Been there done that. I've turned off the phone or put it in Airplane Mode
> when flying (on different flights, of course), and when I turned it on or
> took it off Airplane Mode after landing, I got iMessages that had been sent
> while I was in flight.

having never received "iMessages", just wondering, how do you know that
a text message you are receiving was delivered via Apple's servers
instead of via the carrier's SMS link ?

If the Apple servers tell the sending iPhone that the destination is
currently unreachable, perhaps the iPhone sends the message via the
carrier's SMS system and the later is the one with the store/ofrward to
deliver your SMS once the phone is again "on-line" at the mobile network
level.

[DevilsPGD]

In the last episode of

<50b2b32e$0$56326$c3e8da3$3304...@news.astraweb.com>, JF Mezei

<jfmezei...@vaxination.ca> said:

>If the Apple servers tell the sending iPhone that the destination is
>currently unreachable, perhaps the iPhone sends the message via the
>carrier's SMS system and the later is the one with the store/ofrward to
>deliver your SMS once the phone is again "on-line" at the mobile network
>level.

There is no "destination is currently unreachable", but rather, there is
a "Delivered" status. If this status isn't received, the device will
re-send via SMS/MMS if 1) configured to do so, and 2) the device is
capable.

If the user does not have automatic fallback to SMS enabled, iMessage
can store and forward too.

[Chris Blunt]

On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 08:07:36 +0000 (UTC), Lewis
<g.k...@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:

>> Apple may know which of its iPhone are switched on, but how does it
>> associate a phone number with each of those devices?
>

>Via the AppleID. iMessages to my mobile number show up on my iphone, my
>ipad, my laptop, my MacPro, and my Mac mini.

>
>> The telephone number is allocated to each phone operating on a network
>> by the carrier whose SIM is in the phone. The phone itself can usually
>> determine what number it is associated with, but this is not always
>> the case.
>

>And completely irrelevant in this case.

The point was that the iMessage system relies on an iPhone having a
SIM installed which is associated with the number that is registered
to the Apple ID the phone is using. If you switch SIM cards, as many
people do when they travel, the phone would no longer be able to
receive iMessages.

Chris

[JF Mezei]

On 12-11-25 19:24, Chris Blunt wrote:

> to the Apple ID the phone is using. If you switch SIM cards, as many
> people do when they travel, the phone would no longer be able to
> receive iMessages.

This depends on the real details of how iMessage really works. If the
association between appleID and phone number is done dynamically
whenever the phone connects to the internet and changed IP address, then
the apple servers would know you are currently using a new phone number
and you'd be reacheable under that number.


If the association is done once when you turn on iMessage, then changing
SIM card would not allow you to receive messages destined to your new
number but you could receive messages destinted to your old number.

If the data sent is encrypted, it would be hard to look at wireshark
logs of the wi-fi activity by the iPhone to see exactly what info is
being sent.

[Chris Blunt]

On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 17:39:44 -0700, Michelle Steiner
<mich...@michelle.org> wrote:

>In article <kpc5b8h0657unkkhi...@4ax.com>,

> Chris Blunt <ma...@nospam.com> wrote:
>
>> >And completely irrelevant in this case.
>>
>> The point was that the iMessage system relies on an iPhone having a SIM
>> installed which is associated with the number that is registered to the
>> Apple ID the phone is using. If you switch SIM cards, as many people do
>> when they travel, the phone would no longer be able to receive
>> iMessages.
>

>Does it have anything to do with the Apple ID? I don't see where it
>requires that.

Perhaps not. I was just trying to understand how Apple associate a
phone number with a particular phone, especially in situations where
people are frequently swapping SIM cards.

In the absence of any officially published detailed technical
description of how the system works we are just guessing at a lot of
this based on our own observations.

Chris

[Tom Stiller]

In article <1ku5y7y.1r43srajdvhkrN%dem...@actrix.gen.nz>,

Messages can also be addressed to one's registered email address. That's
the way my kids message me on my iMac (running Messages).

>
> I don't know offhand how often the iPhone checks the destination number
> for iMessage support, but it might be as often as once each day for each
> destination number.

--

PRAY, v. To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf
of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy. -- Ambrose Bierce

[Tom Stiller]

In article <l0g5b8tukc3u313p6...@4ax.com>,

Chris Blunt <ma...@nospam.com> wrote:

> On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 17:39:44 -0700, Michelle Steiner
> <mich...@michelle.org> wrote:
>
> >In article <kpc5b8h0657unkkhi...@4ax.com>,
> > Chris Blunt <ma...@nospam.com> wrote:
> >
> >> >And completely irrelevant in this case.
> >>
> >> The point was that the iMessage system relies on an iPhone having a SIM
> >> installed which is associated with the number that is registered to the
> >> Apple ID the phone is using. If you switch SIM cards, as many people do
> >> when they travel, the phone would no longer be able to receive
> >> iMessages.
> >
> >Does it have anything to do with the Apple ID? I don't see where it
> >requires that.
>
> Perhaps not. I was just trying to understand how Apple associate a
> phone number with a particular phone, especially in situations where
> people are frequently swapping SIM cards.
>
> In the absence of any officially published detailed technical
> description of how the system works we are just guessing at a lot of
> this based on our own observations.

Phone numbers and SIM cards are not required as iMessages can be
sent/received from/by my iMac running OS X 10.8.2 and Messages.

[Chris Blunt]

On Mon, 26 Nov 2012 03:59:20 +0000 (UTC), Lewis
<g.k...@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:

>In message <kpc5b8h0657unkkhi...@4ax.com>

> Chris Blunt <ma...@nospam.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 08:07:36 +0000 (UTC), Lewis
>> <g.k...@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:
>
>>>> Apple may know which of its iPhone are switched on, but how does it
>>>> associate a phone number with each of those devices?
>>>
>>>Via the AppleID. iMessages to my mobile number show up on my iphone, my
>>>ipad, my laptop, my MacPro, and my Mac mini.
>>>
>>>> The telephone number is allocated to each phone operating on a network
>>>> by the carrier whose SIM is in the phone. The phone itself can usually
>>>> determine what number it is associated with, but this is not always
>>>> the case.
>>>
>>>And completely irrelevant in this case.
>
>> The point was that the iMessage system relies on an iPhone having a
>> SIM installed which is associated with the number that is registered
>> to the Apple ID the phone is using.
>

>No, because my SIM-less 3GS gets iMessages.

But can you receive iMessages from a basic mobile phone that is only
capable of sending/receiving SMS messages? By that I mean a phone that
doesn't have the ability to connect to the internet.

Chris

[DevilsPGD]

In the last episode of

<michelle-F9896A...@news.eternal-september.org>, Michelle

Steiner <mich...@michelle.org> said:

>In article <kpc5b8h0657unkkhi...@4ax.com>,
> Chris Blunt <ma...@nospam.com> wrote:
>

>> >And completely irrelevant in this case.
>>
>> The point was that the iMessage system relies on an iPhone having a SIM
>> installed which is associated with the number that is registered to the
>> Apple ID the phone is using. If you switch SIM cards, as many people do
>> when they travel, the phone would no longer be able to receive
>> iMessages.
>

>Does it have anything to do with the Apple ID? I don't see where it
>requires that.

It can optionally be associated with the Apple ID, but this isn't
required. It's useful though, as it allows other devices on the same
Apple ID to receive the same iMessage messages, so you can receive
iMessages addressed to your iPhone's phone number to your iPad.

You can also send/receive messages via iMessage without a phone number
at all, in this case, an Apple ID is required as it provides the unique
identifier for your device/account.

It's not required to send/receive iMessages at your phone number (and
you can still interact with email-address based iMessage users at their
email address)

[DevilsPGD]

In the last episode of

<50b2ba51$0$34125$c3e8da3$5e5e...@news.astraweb.com>, JF Mezei

<jfmezei...@vaxination.ca> said:

>This depends on the real details of how iMessage really works. If the
>association between appleID and phone number is done dynamically
>whenever the phone connects to the internet and changed IP address, then
>the apple servers would know you are currently using a new phone number
>and you'd be reacheable under that number.
>
>If the association is done once when you turn on iMessage, then changing
>SIM card would not allow you to receive messages destined to your new
>number but you could receive messages destinted to your old number.

The association is done when you change SIMs, and then subsequently
connect to the iMessage network (which requires data)

If you swap SIM cards to a non-data enabled SIM and don't connect to
wifi, your old phone number continues to work for other devices
associated with your iMessage Apple ID. Once your phone connects, it
will register the new SIM card and new phone number with Apple and will
remove the old phone number as it's no longer in use.

[Chris Blunt]

On Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:41:58 -0700, Michelle Steiner
<mich...@michelle.org> wrote:

>In article <5ei7b8tqfoau5kgkb...@4ax.com>,

> DevilsPGD <booga...@crazyhat.net> wrote:
>
>> >> >And completely irrelevant in this case.
>> >>
>> >> The point was that the iMessage system relies on an iPhone having a
>> >> SIM installed which is associated with the number that is registered
>> >> to the Apple ID the phone is using. If you switch SIM cards, as many
>> >> people do when they travel, the phone would no longer be able to
>> >> receive iMessages.
>> >
>> >Does it have anything to do with the Apple ID? I don't see where it
>> >requires that.
>>
>> It can optionally be associated with the Apple ID, but this isn't
>> required. It's useful though, as it allows other devices on the same
>> Apple ID to receive the same iMessage messages, so you can receive
>> iMessages addressed to your iPhone's phone number to your iPad.
>

>Right, but there's no need to associate the phone number with an Apple ID.
>But I don't see how getting iMessages addressed to your phone number on
>your iPad, iPod Touch, or Mac (with OS X 10.8) associates the phone number
>with the Apple ID; it associates the number with the device.

Suppose you have both an iPhone and a Mac, and both devices are signed
in using the same Apple ID. If someone sends you an iMessage by
addressing it to your phone number that message will be delivered to
your iPhone.

If your iPhone was switched off or out of coverage area wouldn't the
message still be delivered to the Mac? Wouldn't that require an
association to be made between the phone number and the Apple ID? If
not, how would the system know that the Mac was owned by the same
person as the recipient of the message which was only addressed to a
telephone number?

Chris

[Savageduck]

On 2012-11-25 16:09:18 -0800, JF Mezei <jfmezei...@vaxination.ca> said:

> On 12-11-25 18:12, Michelle Steiner wrote:
>
>> Been there done that. I've turned off the phone or put it in Airplane Mode
>> when flying (on different flights, of course), and when I turned it on or
>> took it off Airplane Mode after landing, I got iMessages that had been sent
>> while I was in flight.
>
> having never received "iMessages", just wondering, how do you know that
> a text message you are receiving was delivered via Apple's servers
> instead of via the carrier's SMS link ?

Simple color coding for your original, or subsequent responses,
SMS-Text messages are "green", iMessages are "blue". All incoming
messages, iMessage or SMS-Text are not color coded and appear as black
text on white.

>
> If the Apple servers tell the sending iPhone that the destination is
> currently unreachable, perhaps the iPhone sends the message via the
> carrier's SMS system and the later is the one with the store/ofrward to
> deliver your SMS once the phone is again "on-line" at the mobile network
> level.

Understand, there is no charge for iMessages. SMS-Text are going to be
part of whatever plan you have with your carrier and you are paying for
them in one way or another.

--
Regards,

Savageduck

[Tom Stiller]

In article <michelle-D9B346...@news.eternal-september.org>,
Michelle Steiner <mich...@michelle.org> wrote:

> In article <7k38b8h6n5si6hbvt...@4ax.com>,

> Chris Blunt <ma...@nospam.com> wrote:
>
> > Suppose you have both an iPhone and a Mac, and both devices are signed
> > in using the same Apple ID. If someone sends you an iMessage by
> > addressing it to your phone number that message will be delivered to
> > your iPhone.
>

> If your Mac (under Mtn. Lion) has the phone number entered to accept
> iMessages, it will be delivered to both the iPhone and the Mac, not just to
> the phone.

>
> > If your iPhone was switched off or out of coverage area wouldn't the
> > message still be delivered to the Mac? Wouldn't that require an
> > association to be made between the phone number and the Apple ID?
>

> You enter, in iMessages preferences on the Mac, the phone number of your
> iPhone.

I don't see a place to enter phone numbers. I have added three email
addresses that I commonly use and I can receive messages addressed to
any one of them.

>
> > If not, how would the system know that the Mac was owned by the same
> > person as the recipient of the message which was only addressed to a
> > telephone number?
>

> Because you entered the phone number of the iPhone into iMessage's
> preferences. You don't even need to have an Apple ID on that Macintosh;
> all you need to do is enter the email addresses you want to be able to be
> reached by iMessage.
>
> How many times do I have to explain this?

For me, at least once more.

[DevilsPGD]

In the last episode of

<2012112617374390412-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMmecom>, Savageduck

<savageduck1@{REMOVESPAM}me.com> said:

>On 2012-11-25 16:09:18 -0800, JF Mezei <jfmezei...@vaxination.ca> said:
>
>> On 12-11-25 18:12, Michelle Steiner wrote:
>>
>>> Been there done that. I've turned off the phone or put it in Airplane Mode
>>> when flying (on different flights, of course), and when I turned it on or
>>> took it off Airplane Mode after landing, I got iMessages that had been sent
>>> while I was in flight.
>>
>> having never received "iMessages", just wondering, how do you know that
>> a text message you are receiving was delivered via Apple's servers
>> instead of via the carrier's SMS link ?
>
>Simple color coding for your original, or subsequent responses,
>SMS-Text messages are "green", iMessages are "blue". All incoming
>messages, iMessage or SMS-Text are not color coded and appear as black
>text on white.

While this is true, there's also a "--- Text message ---" or "---
iMessage ---" line above message, so you can still tell where a message
originated.

[DevilsPGD]

In the last episode of

<michelle-D9B346...@news.eternal-september.org>, Michelle

Steiner <mich...@michelle.org> said:

>Because you entered the phone number of the iPhone into iMessage's
>preferences. You don't even need to have an Apple ID on that Macintosh;
>all you need to do is enter the email addresses you want to be able to be
>reached by iMessage.

That's not how it works on an iPad. On an iPad, you have to associate
the iPad with an Apple ID, as well as associate the iPhone with the same
Apple ID. Once this is done, the iPad will allow you to choose to
receive iMessages at the number associated with the iPhone.

It is not possible to set up this connection without an Apple ID being
connected. It's possible that OSX is different, but consider this: What
stops you from entering my phone number into your Mac's iMessage and
intercepting my messages?

[Savageduck]

On 2012-11-26 19:16:41 -0800, Tom Stiller <tom_s...@yahoo.com> said:

> In article <michelle-D9B346...@news.eternal-september.org>,
> Michelle Steiner <mich...@michelle.org> wrote:
>
>> In article <7k38b8h6n5si6hbvt...@4ax.com>,
>> Chris Blunt <ma...@nospam.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Suppose you have both an iPhone and a Mac, and both devices are signed
>>> in using the same Apple ID. If someone sends you an iMessage by
>>> addressing it to your phone number that message will be delivered to
>>> your iPhone.
>>
>> If your Mac (under Mtn. Lion) has the phone number entered to accept
>> iMessages, it will be delivered to both the iPhone and the Mac, not just to
>> the phone.
>>
>>> If your iPhone was switched off or out of coverage area wouldn't the
>>> message still be delivered to the Mac? Wouldn't that require an
>>> association to be made between the phone number and the Apple ID?
>>
>> You enter, in iMessages preferences on the Mac, the phone number of your
>> iPhone.
>
> I don't see a place to enter phone numbers. I have added three email
> addresses that I commonly use and I can receive messages addressed to
> any one of them.

There is only going to be one phone number on the iPhone. Since the
iPad is not phone you won't find a place to enter phone numbers.

On the iPhone, or the iPad check "Settings". What you see is not the
same on the two devices.

Open "Settings" scroll down to "Messages" ensure that you see the following:
iMessage" --> "ON"
"Send & Receive", this will show the number of valid addresses synced
to this Apple ID. In my case it is 4.
Tap on "Send & Receive"; here you will see at the top, your Apple ID.
Blow that is the notification:
"You can be reached by iMessage at":
My iphone number, including country code and area code, followed by
three e-mail addresses with an option to add more.

I can the start new conversations from the same number or any e-mail
address I choose.

My iPad, not being a phone uses the same Apple ID and the three e-mail
addresses found on my iPhone.

Note: messages sent to the phone number will not appear on the iPad,
only those sent to an associated e-mail address. Those sent to an
e-mail address will show on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, & Mac.

For more check:
< http://www.apple.com/ios/messages/ >

>
>>
>>> If not, how would the system know that the Mac was owned by the same
>>> person as the recipient of the message which was only addressed to a
>>> telephone number?
>>
>> Because you entered the phone number of the iPhone into iMessage's
>> preferences. You don't even need to have an Apple ID on that Macintosh;
>> all you need to do is enter the email addresses you want to be able to be
>> reached by iMessage.
>>
>> How many times do I have to explain this?
>
> For me, at least once more.


--

Regards,

Savageduck

[David Empson]

Michelle Steiner <mich...@michelle.org> wrote:

> In article <7k38b8h6n5si6hbvt...@4ax.com>,

> Chris Blunt <ma...@nospam.com> wrote:
>
> > Suppose you have both an iPhone and a Mac, and both devices are signed
> > in using the same Apple ID. If someone sends you an iMessage by
> > addressing it to your phone number that message will be delivered to
> > your iPhone.
>

> If your Mac (under Mtn. Lion) has the phone number entered to accept
> iMessages, it will be delivered to both the iPhone and the Mac, not just to
> the phone.
>

> > If your iPhone was switched off or out of coverage area wouldn't the
> > message still be delivered to the Mac? Wouldn't that require an
> > association to be made between the phone number and the Apple ID?
>

> You enter, in iMessages preferences on the Mac, the phone number of your
> iPhone.

That isn't correct.

You can check or uncheck an option for whether the Mac will accept
messages for your iPhone's number. You can't enter the number manually.

The phone number option is only shown if you have an iPhone and the
iPhone has registered with iMessage. The phone number is associated with
the Apple ID at that point.

[...]

> You don't even need to have an Apple ID on that Macintosh; all you need to
> do is enter the email addresses you want to be able to be reached by
> iMessage.

That is also not correct. You cannot create an iMessage account in
Messages on Mountain Lion using an arbitrary e-mail address. You have to
sign into an iMessage account using an Apple ID, which can be different
from the iCloud account set in System Preferences.

You can of course create an Apple ID using an existing arbitrary e-mail
address, so this is somewhat of a semantic issue, but there is always an
Apple ID involved with iMessage on a Mac, iPad or iPod Touch. (I haven't
tried setting up iMessage on an iPhone without an Apple ID, but
DevilsPGD says that is possible.)

Once signed into an Apple ID for iMessage, you can then add additional
e-mail addresses which are linked to that Apple ID for use by iMessage,
and select any subset of the e-mail addresses which will be used to
receive messages on the Mac (including the e-mail address of the Apple
ID itself, and the iPhone's number, if you have one linked to that Apple
ID).

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

[David Empson]

Michelle Steiner <mich...@michelle.org> wrote:

> In article <1rc8b81le5bau0kvj...@4ax.com>,

> DevilsPGD <booga...@crazyhat.net> wrote:
>
> > >Because you entered the phone number of the iPhone into iMessage's
> > >preferences. You don't even need to have an Apple ID on that
> > >Macintosh; all you need to do is enter the email addresses you want to
> > >be able to be reached by iMessage.
> >
> > That's not how it works on an iPad. On an iPad, you have to associate
> > the iPad with an Apple ID, as well as associate the iPhone with the same
> > Apple ID. Once this is done, the iPad will allow you to choose to
> > receive iMessages at the number associated with the iPhone.
>

> On my iPad, there's a place for the Apple ID, one phone number, and as many
> email addresses as you want. When you enter the phone number, it does some
> sort of verification, but I don't know what kind of verification because it
> doesn't say anything other than "verifying".

There is no way to "enter" a phone number in the iMessage settings on an
iPad (in my case an iPad 2 running iOS 6.0.1), only select or deselect a
phone number already associated with the Apple ID. (That phone number
comes from an iPhone automatically when it was registered with
iMessage.)

It has a field to "Add Another Email" but that won't accept a phone
number.

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

[DevilsPGD]

In the last episode of

<michelle-E60E62...@news.eternal-september.org>, Michelle
Steiner <mich...@michelle.org> said:

>In article <2012112620531673557-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMmecom>,

> Savageduck <savageduck1@{REMOVESPAM}me.com> wrote:
>
>> There is only going to be one phone number on the iPhone. Since the
>> iPad is not phone you won't find a place to enter phone numbers.
>

>Yes you will. Here's proof:
>
><https://dl.dropbox.com/u/50314006/mesaages.png>

Note the lack of an "Edit" button beside the phone number? Try and
change that number and see what happens.

I also note that you're logged in to an Apple ID. Remove it and then see
if you can add a phone number without first logging back in to your
Apple ID.

This really does require an Apple ID to make it all work together.

[DevilsPGD]

In the last episode of

<michelle-FF05D0...@news.eternal-september.org>, Michelle
Steiner <mich...@michelle.org> said:

>In article <7pl8b8141vrjf7osd...@4ax.com>,

> DevilsPGD <booga...@crazyhat.net> wrote:
>
>> >In article <2012112620531673557-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMmecom>,
>> > Savageduck <savageduck1@{REMOVESPAM}me.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> There is only going to be one phone number on the iPhone. Since the
>> >> iPad is not phone you won't find a place to enter phone numbers.
>> >
>> >Yes you will. Here's proof:
>> >
>> ><https://dl.dropbox.com/u/50314006/mesaages.png>
>>
>> Note the lack of an "Edit" button beside the phone number? Try and
>> change that number and see what happens.
>

>In essence, Ducky said that you can't have a phone number associated with
>Messages on an iPad. He was wrong.

Ahh. Yeah, he's a bit out of date (or on an iPad 1, which is orphaned on
iOS 5, and in that environment, he is correct)

[Savageduck]

OK! That explains something to me.
I am using an iPad2 with yet to be updated iOS5. My iPhone 4S is running iOS6.
Now I stand educated with regard to yet another difference between the two.
The strange thing is I still have no trouble initiating iMessages to
folks I know who use iPhones using their number, or have iMessage
activated on Macs, via my iOS5 iPad2.

I have been doing things this way so I have a means of conducting my
personal Apple Maps - G-Maps comparison.
I will update my iPad soon enough.

--
Regards,

Savageduck

[DevilsPGD]

In the last episode of

<2012112700560341594-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMmecom>, Savageduck

It's difficult to participate in technical discussions when running an
outdated OS without the potential for confusion.

All versions of iMessage can interact with phone-number and email-based
users, and all versions allow users to add an email address as an
iMessage destination, at least as far as I recall. What iOS6 adds is the
ability to receive messages addressed to your iPhone's phone number on
your iPad or other device (and to send from your iPhone's phone number,
again, rather than an email address)

[Savageduck]

Got it.

--
Regards,

Savageduck

[Tom Stiller]

In article <michelle-5710CE...@news.eternal-september.org>,
Michelle Steiner <mich...@michelle.org> wrote:

> In article <tom_stiller-1C89...@news.individual.net>,

> Tom Stiller <tom_s...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > If your Mac (under Mtn. Lion) has the phone number entered to accept
> > > iMessages, it will be delivered to both the iPhone and the Mac, not
> > > just to the phone.
> > >
> > > > If your iPhone was switched off or out of coverage area wouldn't the
> > > > message still be delivered to the Mac? Wouldn't that require an
> > > > association to be made between the phone number and the Apple ID?
> > >
> > > You enter, in iMessages preferences on the Mac, the phone number of
> > > your iPhone.
> >
> > I don't see a place to enter phone numbers. I have added three email
> > addresses that I commonly use and I can receive messages addressed to
> > any one of them.
>

> Are you using Lion or Mtn. Lion? If the former, there's no place to enter
> a phone number.

I'm using ML (10.8.2) and there is no place to enter a phone number,
probably because I don't have an Apple phone device registered with that
AppleID.

[David Empson]

Lewis <g.k...@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:

> In message <1ku8c81.1x6en6y6au71lN%dem...@actrix.gen.nz>

> Yes, you can add a phone number if one is not there.

How? I can't see any user interface which allows that.

On my iPad, if I'm signed into an Apple ID without an iPhone linked to
it, the iMessage settings shows the e-mail address associated with the
Apple ID and a field to add other e-mail addresses. A phone number is
not accepted as a valid e-mail address and there is nowhere else to add
anything.

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

[DevilsPGD]

In the last episode of <1ku9irk.7cmzm9172s5fzN%dem...@actrix.gen.nz>,

dem...@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) said:

>How? I can't see any user interface which allows that.
>
>On my iPad, if I'm signed into an Apple ID without an iPhone linked to
>it, the iMessage settings shows the e-mail address associated with the
>Apple ID and a field to add other e-mail addresses. A phone number is
>not accepted as a valid e-mail address and there is nowhere else to add
>anything.

This is consistent with everything I've seen. Perhaps some earlier
version of OSX was different?

[Urs Beeli]

On Mon, 26 Nov 2012 08:24:48 +0800 Chris Blunt wrote:
> On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 08:07:36 +0000 (UTC), Lewis
> <g.k...@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:
>
> >> Apple may know which of its iPhone are switched on, but how does it
> >> associate a phone number with each of those devices?
> >
> >Via the AppleID. iMessages to my mobile number show up on my iphone, my
> >ipad, my laptop, my MacPro, and my Mac mini.
> >
> >> The telephone number is allocated to each phone operating on a network
> >> by the carrier whose SIM is in the phone. The phone itself can usually
> >> determine what number it is associated with, but this is not always
> >> the case.

> >
> >And completely irrelevant in this case.
>
> The point was that the iMessage system relies on an iPhone having a
> SIM installed which is associated with the number that is registered
> to the Apple ID the phone is using. If you switch SIM cards, as many
> people do when they travel, the phone would no longer be able to
> receive iMessages.

I did that recently and the first few messages I exchanged with my wife were
sent as SMS (green) and at one point switched to iMessage (blue) without my
doing anything. So I guess there is some mechanism that recognises that my
new SIM and phone numbers were associated to the same iPhone the system
already knew. Switching back to my normal SIM, there was no noticeable
transition.

Cheers
/ur