Talk and text

[Vanfast]

Is there a way to successfully use a talk and text plan with an iPhone 6 and not have to consume data without wifi? Apparently the only way it can work is that both phones have iMessage off. And if the receiving iPhone is on wifi it has to be shut off. This is not practical nor is it reliable. Does anybody have a solution?

[Nighthawk]

iMessage uses data if you are trying to communicate with another iPhone user. There's no easy way around that. Any non-iPhone recipients and iMessage will send as a simple SMS/text message though it will require the cellular connection for that to work. If you have cellular data shut off, iMessage may try send as a text message but not likely for the first few tries if iMessage knows the recipient has an iPhone. In that instance the sending and receiving party will need cellular connectivity (no data) since that is how text messages are sent and received. Any pictures or iMessage stickers, etc., will require data/wifi.

If your iPhone 6 is the one on talk and text, whatever you do with it won't have any impact on the party receiving the message. If the recipient iPhone user is on cellular, wifi or has the phone off, you'd still be able to send when your phone is on wifi. They won't have to shut wifi off for it to work. If messages are sent as text/SMS, a cellular connection is needed as they won't go over wireless.

[Vanfast]

Hi Nighthawk.

When the iphone6 is on the cellular talk and text network without any data, it does not receive texts from other iPhones. Unless the sender turns off iMessage. And if the sending phone is on wifi, the only way to send the message is to shut off wifi so the sending phone is on the cellular network. This is also the same case the other way around. The only way for the iPhone 6 on talk and text can send a message to another iPhone is either be connected to wifi or that the receiver has iMessage and wifi shut off. I have been through this and had it confirmed by customer service. I am currently looking for a solution that provides me seamless text connection between phones. Data usage is still an option as long as it fits in my 22/mo budget. It appears that the iPhone does not work on a strictly talk and text plan.

[NFtoBC]

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@Vanfast wrote:
Hi Nighthawk.
 It appears that the iPhone does not work on a strictly talk and text plan.

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It will, but you have to never use iMessage. You would need to turn off iMessage on your iPhone, removing any contact information linked to your Apple ID, and also delete any existing conversations with others. You can't smoothly use iMessage at times and not at others, as Apple's iMessaging servers think you have connectivity.

The Send as SMS toggle works in some instances, but not all, causing delays in message sending, so not using iMessage is the better option if you do not have cellular data.

You also need to ensure you do not have iMessage running on any other devices, else the iMessage server will preferentially send there.

[Vanfast]

That is correct. The send as sms switch is a placebo. All iMessages use 100% data. Whether it’s wifi or cellular. Once used cannot be dependable in a talk and text situation without significant coordination between the sender and receiver iPhones. Since a large percentage of the phones out there are iPhones, makes the talk and text plans unusable for iphones

[NFtoBC · Accepted solution]

No, not a placebo. I have received and sent SMS with another iPhone when not connected to a data network (travelling), and all other devices using iMessage were turned off, i.e. iMessage was unavailable.
Once another device was turned on and connected to Wi-Fi, messages arrived to my phone only when it was connected to Wi-Fi.

Thus my comment that if you do not use cellular data, you need avoid iMessage at all times. The iPhone is a connected device, and using it without full connectivity as designed, will cause a loss of utility.