iOS to Android - How to replace universal messaging?

[iphone3g28]

I tried to switch over previously this year, but ran into the issue of being caught up in the convenience of iMessaging. For various reasons I must use a Note 5 now, and still need to be able to universally message from iOS, Android, and Mac OS.

What is the best platform to do so, and, is there an app that does this that will not require other users to change what they use?

 

[Channan]

The only way you can message anyone from any device without having everyone install another app is if you use a texting app. There's no universal iMessage-like app.

I use Hangouts with Google Voice, so I can text people from any iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows device, but you either need to port your current number to Google Voice or use a different phone number.

 

[JaySoul]

iMessage is not "universal messaging" in terms of cross-platform.

WhatsApp is usually best from phone and you can also sign in on the web now too.

 

[Feenician]

iMessage is not "universal messaging" in terms of cross-platform.

WhatsApp is usually best from phone and you can also sign in on the web now too.

iMessage the protocol isn't but it's much more likely the OP was referring to imessage, the app, which is. It requires no thought or accommodation to anyone on any platform and does the "the right thing" regardless. That is to say when iMessage (the protocol) is available to the receiver it uses that and when it's not it uses standard SMS/MMS. I believe the OP was asking what could replace that on Android. Whatsapp isn't the answer since it requires the receiver has the app.

 

[tbayrgs]

The only thing I could think of is using your Android phone for SMS/MMS while using MightyText on a web browser on iOS (not certain if this is even possible) and on any computer, including a Mac.

Otherwise, if you want a messaging solution that will be synced across all devices/platforms, you'll need to you a messaging app available everywhere, i.e. Facebook Messenger, Hangouts. My understanding was that WhatsApp is tied to your mobile phone number--can it be used simultaneously across tablets/computers/other phones as well?

And again, the problem with the the latter solution is that it means your contacts will also need to use that messaging app.

 

[ag29]

My favorite is Textra. It's an awesome messaging app.. There's lots of apps very similar to it too.

 

[tbayrgs]

My favorite is Textra. It's an awesome messaging app.. There's lots of apps very similar to it too.

That's just an SMS client on Android--doesn't provide the OP access to sync'd conversations across all devices/platforms.

 

[Michael Goff]

Get hangouts
Use your number as GVoice number
Link GVoice with Hangouts
Text from hangouts to people with iMessage