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If you’re a new iPhone user, you may not know that there is a specific type of text message you can send from your Apple device to another device of the same brand, such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer. This is called iMessage and allows you to send text messages, photos, videos and GIFs.
In this article you will find how to activate this exclusive function for Apple users and its main features.
Activating iMessage on your iPhone
Follow these step-by-step instructions to easily set up your iPhone to send and receive iMessages.
- Go to the “Settings” app on your phone.
- Locate the “Messages” option and click on it.
- Make sure “iMessage” is turned on. Otherwise, activate it by clicking on the sidebar.
- Once “iMessages” is activated, click “Send and Receive.”
- You’ll find your phone number with a check mark under the “You can receive and play iMessages from” option.
- Click “Use your Apple ID for iMessage” and add your email address.
Once you’ve activated your phone number and Apple ID, you can set up your other devices to send iMessages using your phone number.
How to set your phone number for iMessage on your Mac
Once you have activated iMessage on your phone, you can use it from your Mac computer. Follow the steps below to activate iMessage using your phone number on your Mac.
- On your Mac, go to “Messages” and then “Preferences.” You will be asked to sign in with your Apple ID.
- Tap “iMessage” and then “Settings.”
- To activate your phone number and Apple ID email with iMessage, click the squares next to them until you see a blue check mark.
- If you do not want the recipient to see your phone number, click the “Start new conversation from” option. You can select your Apple ID instead of your phone number.
How to turn your phone number on and off on your iPad and iPod Touch
You can turn your phone number on or off to start or stop sending and receiving iMessages on your iPad or iPod Touch. Follow these simple steps.
- Go to the “Settings” app on your iPad or iPod Touch.
- Check if the “iMessage” setting is activated (green).
- Click on the “Send and receive” section
- Go to the “You can receive and play iMessages from” option. There you will find your phone number and your Apple ID email address. If both have a blue check mark, it means they are both activated. Otherwise, click on the one you want to activate or deactivate.
Additionally, from this section you can choose what information the recipient of the message will see. You can display your phone number or email address for your Apple ID.
Main differences between iMessage and SMS messages
iMessage is a new technology incorporated by Apple, very similar to the traditional SMS message service. However, there are some differences between them. Below we present the main characteristics of each of them.
Data usage
SMS message is the traditional text message that you can send from your cell phone to any other cell phone, regardless of brand or model. This app uses your mobile network, not your data.
iMessage, for its part, allows you to send messages from an Apple device to any other device of the same brand. When you receive an iMessage, you’ll notice that it’s in a blue bubble instead of the traditional green bubble that SMS messages use. iMessage does not use your cell phone network to work, but rather an Internet connection. It could be Wi-Fi or your data plan.
Types of messages you can send
SMS Message is a popular application used all over the world. However, the amount of information you can submit is limited to 160 characters. With iMessage, you can send and receive text, photos, videos, GIFs, and stickers.
Encryption
For added privacy and security, iMessage has automatic encryption technology. This means there is less risk of hackers stealing the information you share. SMS messages do not have this type of security technology.
Automatic sync
With iMessage, you can sync all your Apple devices to share the information you send and receive. All your messages will appear on all your devices so you can follow your conversation from any device you’re using.
Read receipts
With an SMS message, you will have to wait for the other person to respond to find out if the recipient has seen the text. On the other hand, iMessage will show when your message has been delivered and read. Additionally, iMessage has live typing technology. This will let you know when the person is writing a message.
Spell message with an I
Mobile phone technology is advancing rapidly and offering more functions every day to simplify the lives of users. While most of the advancements are compatible with multiple devices, Apple has been working to create a new universe specifically for its users.
iMessage is a text messaging application very similar, in many ways, to traditional SMS. However, Apple has doubled down by creating iMessage. This application has unique features such as encryption technology, multimedia messaging and automatic synchronization, which has left ordinary SMS technology behind, at least for iPhone users.
Do you find iMessage useful or do you still prefer the traditional SMS app? Let us know in the comments section.
