iOS to Android messaging

[Casfin]

Hi folks, long time reader, thought I'd post a Q.

I'm a long time iPhone user, thinking about jumping to Android.

My question - I have kids and currently they can message me from their iPods/ipad via iMessage.
Is there a cross platform alternative I could use to do the same so they could reach me on android from their Apple devices (via wireless obviously)

Would Facebook messenger be a viable option in this regard?

Thanks!

 

[AustinIllini]

Hi folks, long time reader, thought I'd post a Q.

I'm a long time iPhone user, thinking about jumping to Android.

My question - I have kids and currently they can message me from their iPods/ipad via iMessage.
Is there a cross platform alternative I could use to do the same so they could reach me on android from their Apple devices (via wireless obviously)

Would Facebook messenger be a viable option in this regard?

Thanks!

Hangouts is one option. It's essentially iMessage without the texting component (on Android, you can turn the texting component on, but it's kind of a mess).

 

[C DM]

Pretty much any IM-like service would work, from Hangouts, to Facebook Messenger, to WhatsApp, to Skype, to Viber, to dozens of other similar ones out there--as long as you and they have it (whichever service you decide to use) installed you can use it to communicate back and forth.

 

[kevinof]

Whatsapp is good but no ipad option. Viber works on everything but poorer at voice than whatsapp.

Hangout could be very good but nobody outside of us techies even know about it.

 

[Zaft]

Soo many, whatsapp, viber, facebook, kik. etc etc etc

 

[kevinof]

Yep. On my ipad I have viber, Skype, Hangouts, iMessage,Facebook messenger....

I'm covered!

 

[MRU]

Yep. On my ipad I have viber, Skype, Hangouts, iMessage,Facebook messenger....

I'm covered!

All the ones i was going to say. Whatsapp requires a physical phone so cant be used on a tablet or ipod touch for example, so it's actually more limited that the others.

Facebook Messenger no longer requires you have a facebook account / profile.

 

[mi7chy]

Hangouts is the most popular here on iOS since it's the only one that allows for free unlimited SMS and calls over WIFI to landline/mobile to North America.

 

[gotluck]

I always try to get people to use hangouts for cross platform

the extra bonuses referred to above are great for USA people. the unlimited sms and calls over wifi (using a callable separate google voice number too if you wish) to landline/mobile also applies to iOS hangouts too!

 

[hallux]

Hangouts is one option. It's essentially iMessage without the texting component (on Android, you can turn the texting component on, but it's kind of a mess).

In what way is it a "mess"? I suppose compared to iMessage it might be but I have zero problem determining what conversations are texts and what ones are just Hangouts, and I manage to do that with multiple accounts in Hangouts.

 

[AustinIllini]

In what way is it a "mess"? I suppose compared to iMessage it might be but I have zero problem determining what conversations are texts and what ones are just Hangouts, and I manage to do that with multiple accounts in Hangouts.

I got so sick and tired of getting Hangouts messages from phone numbers I didn't recognize. It was awful.

 

[The Clark]

My favourite one would be an app called groupme. It's got such an intuitive and responsive design, and of course it's free and works on both iOS and Android. You can also access all of your chats online through web browsers.

 

[2298754]

Hangouts is the best, but there's always BBM, WhatsApp, Telegram, and a million other texting apps out there.
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My favourite one would be an app called groupme. It's got such an intuitive and responsive design, and of course it's free and works on both iOS and Android. You can also access all of your chats online through web browsers.

I like GroupMe. They have a great interface and if you don't to eat through your data, they have an SMS-only option too

 

[Robisan]

Verizon Messages+ works across all platforms including Mac & Windows apps if you're on Verizon.

 

[C DM]

Verizon Messages+ works across all platforms including Mac & Windows apps if you're on Verizon.

Yeah, the limitation is that everyone would basically need to be on Verizon essentially.

 

[Robisan]

Yeah, the limitation is that everyone would basically need to be on Verizon essentially.

Yes the OP's family would need to be on Verizon for full integration across platforms, however they would be able to SMS / MMS with any party regardless of whether they're on Verizon.

 

[macrem]

BTW isn't iMessages able to tap into some different protocols like ICQ/AOL that Android could also tap into with another app? I'm not saying you'd get all the same functionality, but it seems likely it would be possible to chat with someone using iMessages logged into a protocol used by someone on Android. Whether you'll find iOS users you know doing this is another question.

 

[Fanaticalism]

I got so sick and tired of getting Hangouts messages from phone numbers I didn't recognize. It was awful.

I don't get this.

If it's a text from a contact it shows you that contact.

If it's someone who sends a hangout their name/username shows.

Only time you wouldn't recognize the number is they're not in your contacts which is applicable on any device/platform.

 

[AustinIllini]

I don't get this.

If it's a text from a contact it shows you that contact.

If it's someone who sends a hangout their name/username shows.

Only time you wouldn't recognize the number is they're not in your contacts which is applicable on any device/platform.

The bold is what should have happened. It did not happen.

You don't get it because it doesn't work.

 

[C DM]

BTW isn't iMessages able to tap into some different protocols like ICQ/AOL that Android could also tap into with another app? I'm not saying you'd get all the same functionality, but it seems likely it would be possible to chat with someone using iMessages logged into a protocol used by someone on Android. Whether you'll find iOS users you know doing this is another question.

iMessage is just iMessage.

 

[capathy21]

plus one for Group Me. We use it at work and it is great for one on one chats as well as group conversation.

 

[Channan]

Another vote for Hangouts. I use it all the time, especially since Google Voice is integrated in it and I call/text people for free. In fact, it's the only number I've given out to people in the last 5 years and it saves me a lot of money every month. If you and your children use it, they can message you as well as text other people who don't have Hangouts installed.

 

[BentTable123]

Regular text messages would be the simplest option, works on every possible phone, even dumb phones. Whatsapp would be the next easiest, but it doesn't work on ipod touches. Google voice would be the next easiest option. After that, most apps like facebook, skype, hangouts require both parties to be signed in, which can be shaky when your connection is poor or switches from good to poor.