What is the Difference Between iMessages and Text Messages

Submitted by hubby on Wed, 10/03/2012 - 4:18am

 

iMessage What are iMessages?

iMessages is a free message service provided by Apple via it's free iCloud Service.  iMessages (technically called "Messages") is similar to "old fashioned" text messages (see below) without many of the limitations of old style text messages.  iMessages can only be sent or received on iPhones, iPod Touches, iPads and Mac's.  On iPhones the iMessages app also sends and receives old style text messages but automatically sends messages via the iMessage service to other iPhone users.    
 

What are text messages?

Text messages, also known as txt, SMS, or MMS messages, is the 15+ year old technology used for sending simple messages between mobile phones.  Most mobile phone providers charge for text messaging services.  Text messages are limited to 140 characters and only more recently with the advent of "MMS" (Multimedia Messaging Service) can photos and videos be sent.
 
Text Messages

What is the difference between an iMessage and a text message?

 
These are a few of the key differences and drawbacks of text messages and iMessages:
 
  • iMessages are free and message sizes are unlimited
  • Text messages are usually not free, and limited to 140 characters
  • iMessages can only be sent or received on Apple devices
  • Text messages can be sent or received on virtually any mobile phone manufactured after 1995
  • Text messages use the mobile carrier's SMS network
  • iMessages use Apple's iCloud service via wifi or the phone's data-connection (i.e.; 3G)
  • iMessages (optionally) appear and sync across all Apple devices that you own, allowing you to send, receive and reply to a message regardless if you are on your iPhone or sitting at your Mac (or other device).
  • On Apple devices, iMessage windows or 'bubbles' are blue and text messages are green
 

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Comments

Anonymous Visitor

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 2:22pm

The owner will get notifications on all of their devices and a email that you logged in. If two iphones ahare the same icloud account and have iMessages also configured, they would share their imessages. They would only share SMS messages if they configured both phones to also share each other's SMS messages. Unless Whatsapp is specifically made to make use of icloud (i dont think it is) then you would see nothing for whatsapp..

Anonymous Visitor

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 5:59am

If I have someone's icloud username and password. Can I log into Icloud via my computer using their username and password without them knowing about it? If two iphones share the same icloud username and password, can they see sms messages and whatsapp messages if one of the users deleted the messages after being sent.

Anonymous Visitor

Tue, 03/03/2015 - 5:39pm

Thanks very helpful. I didn't know people were spying haha

hubby

Sat, 01/10/2015 - 5:41am

What you're saying does not make sense to me.. How are they not able to text you? How are they forced to email you?

At any rate - something is wrong, probably a simple setting. I would look at your iMessage settings to make sure they look right to you. Tap SETTINGS then tap MESSAGES.. You will see all of your iMessage options there. I would look at the "Send & Receive" option (tap it) and make sure that your Apple ID is being used/signed in.

The first option is to turn off iMessages completely if you can't get it to work right.

Anonymous Visitor

Sat, 01/10/2015 - 4:39am

How do I change my iphone back to receiving text versus imessages? People trying to text me are not able too text they have to now send the message via email. I like the idea of free texting versus paying my carrier but I need to be able to receive the message via text. Any suggestions? All trying to text me are apple phones. This must have happened to me as a result of ios8 which I just updated. I did not have enough storage prior.

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