SMS on MAC - How?

[Reality4711]

I do not use an iPhone, so how can I send and receive text messages from my Mac?

It would seem a sensible thing to be able to do when on wifi out and about and from home.

What am I missing?

Regards. Sharkey

ps. UK based

 

[chabig]

SMS messaging is a cellular telephone technology. The Mac doesn't have cellular radios so it cannot behave as a phone.

 

[Reality4711]

OK. Got that.

So is there a way of contacting someone's phone from my Mac, if not SMS.?

I realise imessage/email can work - but nothing else?

Regards. Sharkey

 

[MacGizmo]

I do not use an iPhone, so how can I send and receive text messages from my Mac?

It would seem a sensible thing to be able to do when on wifi out and about and from home.

What am I missing?

Regards. Sharkey

ps. UK based

You can use the Messages app to send/receive SMS messages. You will need an Apple ID and a valid email address to send/receive messages.

 

[chabig]

OK. Got that.

So is there a way of contacting someone's phone from my Mac, if not SMS.?

I realise imessage/email can work - but nothing else?

Regards. Sharkey

You can use other messaging apps, like Skype, WhatsApp, or Twitter. Anything that has a web browser interface for you, provided they have the corresponding app on their phone. WhatsApp is pretty nice.

 

[Reality4711]

Thank you everyone that seems to solve the problem brilliantly.
Regards Sharkey

 

[iNarcoleptic]

You can't unless you have an iPhone

 

[Yahooligan]

You can use the Messages app to send/receive SMS messages. You will need an Apple ID and a valid email address to send/receive messages.

No, you can use Messages to send and receive iMessage messages to other iMessage users without a cell phone, you cannot send SMS messages using the Messages app unless you have an iPhone, which the OP doesn't have.

 

[grumpywino]

I use Mysms (Android user too)

 

[HallStevenson]

I use Yappy currently. I used to use MightyText but they implemented a 250-message per month limit unless you pay. It used to be 500 messages. Yappy has no limit but they do have ads in their web-based app so I pay for a 6-month at a time subscription (less than $10 total - can't remember exactly).

 

[panzer06]

Google Voice sends and receives texts and pics (no video that I've been able to figure out) on Android and iPhone and on the Mac in a web browser

 

[flowrider]

^^^^Yes, Google Voice has been working for me for both texts and SMS messages. I use it with Safari, GV doesn't work with Firefox.

Lou