Can’t send sms on LTE iPad without iPhone?

[1BadManVan]

So this is a bit new to me as when I had my LG gPad III, it let me use the stock messaging app to send texts using the phone number registered with its own sim. I’ve come to realise that I can’t do this on my iPad without either using iMessage or text forwarding through my iPhone.

I’m wondering if there is no other option to just use the phone number associated with my LTE iPad? If one day I decide I don’t want to use an iPhone, am I then stuck to only having iMessage? Seems kinda silly they would limit it like this one my cheap android let me do this right out of the box.

Don’t get me wrong, right now this current setup is very convient to have all the texts come and go form either device, but I do plan to keep this iPad for a long time and I wasn’t planning to always have an iPhone. Is this apples way of keeping you roped into their ecosystem?

 

[jasonefmonk]

In my region, Canada, tablet data plans do not include SMS/MMS/voice usage. So a carrier limitation is obviously possible. The software is definitely limited as the iPad has different settings for Messages.app and lacks Phone.app all together. Furthermore there could be some hardware difference in the modem/radio between iPads and iPhones, iPads may have less capability, but that’s just speculation.

 

[MisterSavage]

One option is that you can use the Google Hangouts or Google Voice apps to send/receive SMS messages with your Google Voice number on your iPad.

 

[LibbyLA]

If you happen to be using Verizon as your cell phone carrier, the Verizon Message+ app can be installed on something like 5 devices. It works via WiFi, too, so I have my Verizon phone, my AT&T iPad, an Android tablet running on FreedomPop, and a couple of WiFi iPads sending and receiving the same messages.

Just mentioning that in case there are Verizon users reading the thread.

 

[1BadManVan]

In my region, Canada, tablet data plans do not include SMS/MMS/voice usage. So a carrier limitation is obviously possible. The software is definitely limited as the iPad has different settings for Messages.app and lacks Phone.app all together. Furthermore there could be some hardware difference in the modem/radio between iPads and iPhones, iPads may have less capability, but that’s just speculation.

I live in bc Canada and my lg tablet sends and receives texts using its own number. I’m with Rogers
[doublepost=1542769967][/doublepost]

One option is that you can use the Google Hangouts or Google Voice apps to send/receive SMS messages with your Google Voice number on your iPad.

Will that send a regular sms to someone who doesn’t happen to be using those apps?

Another limitation of the text forwarding on the iPhone with my tablet is if my phone is shut off or somewhere else out of range then I don’t get anything on my iPad either

 

[MisterSavage]

Will that send a regular sms to someone who doesn’t happen to be using those apps?

Yes, it's something I do all the time from my iPad. You can also use Google Hangouts or Voice on a PC to do the same thing.

The one drawback is that SMS "short codes" don't work but that's not something you would need for sending an SMS to a regular phone number.

 

[jasonefmonk]

I live in bc Canada and my lg tablet sends and receives texts using its own number. I’m with Rogers

SMS works on the cellular control channels, if you have a cellular device it's identified by a phone number. This makes it possible to have SMS because they use the same communication path that the device uses to manage its connection to the tower.

A data rate plan with Rogers probably doesn't include voice/SMS/MMS service, but it could, or you could just have a SIM with a voice and text plan intended for a cell phone.

If the service is included in your plan and worked with the LG, then that's sweet but iOS on iPad doesn't support that service type.

or​

If the service isn't part of your data-focused rate plan then you may have just used the control channel to communicate, Rogers may not care because it doesn't actually cost them. They could choose to bill you for the usage though. In this case iOS limitation is still the issue, but you may have been getting a freebie before.

 

[1BadManVan]

Good to know!
[doublepost=1542777201][/doublepost]Have to cross the bridge of using some kind of messaging service if I stray away from iPhone but for now it flows well.

 

[muzzy996]

I have an Android phone and use Googles Messages app for texting. With it I’m able to text via web page using any device. It’s not as convenient as having a dedicated messaging application on the iPad but using a browser on my iPad I’m at least able to send and receive messages through my android phone remotely. The biggest downside is because it is web based there are no notifications that will show up on my iPad. For me it’s not a big deal at all as I’m never far from my phone so I hear my message notifications pop in and my smart watch will show me my notifications.

 

[1BadManVan]

For me, I work freight on the railroad, get up to a bunkhouse where we can stay between 6-24 hours at a time so my iPad is my computer while I’m away from home. So for me it’s nice to just get settled in and use the one device for it all

Either way it’s good to know there are some options, not as convenient but atleast it’s there

 

[PBG4 Dude]

For me, I work freight on the railroad, get up to a bunkhouse where we can stay between 6-24 hours at a time so my iPad is my computer while I’m away from home. So for me it’s nice to just get settled in and use the one device for it all

Either way it’s good to know there are some options, not as convenient but atleast it’s there

I just did a search in the iPad App Store for “sms text” and a whole bunch of apps popped up. You may want to give those a spin.