Messages
The iPhone's SMS (Short Message Service) application, Messages (formerly called Text), looks very much like iChat, but it's not. It's a standard messaging service, much like the ones you find on other mobile phones. Some years later, the iPhone added support for MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)-a way to send not just text messages, but also messages that can include audio, video, pictures, and rich text.
You can't blame iPod touch owners for being a little bent out of shape that they didn't also enjoy this kind of messaging service. But text messages are only for mobile phones, right? As it turns out, no. With iOS 5, Apple introduced a new version of Messages that works not only with the iPhone, but also with the iPod touch.
It can do this because, like FaceTime, Messages doesn't require a phone number to work. On an iPod touch, you can send messages to another iOS device as long as you have the email address associated with that other device and you're connected to a Wi-Fi network. These non-SMS messages are called iMessages (but the app is still called Messages- confusing, I know). Likewise, others can send iMessages to you if they have the correct email address. With an iPhone, you can use either an email address or the traditional method of sending messages to a phone number.
The best thing about this feature is that it's completely free. Even if you send an iMessage from an iPhone, if you do so by sending it to an email address rather than a phone number, that message doesn't count against the text-message limit imposed by your cellular carrier.
Configuring the Messages app
To use Messages, you must have an Apple ID. If you entered that ID when you first configured your iPhone or iPod touch, Messages will use the email address associated with it. If you didn't enter an Apple ID, just tap the Messages app's icon to launch it; you'll be prompted to enter your Apple ID or create a new one by tapping the Create New Account button. In the succeeding screen, you'll be offered the choice to use the address associated with your Apple ID. If you prefer to use a different address, tap the Address field and enter it with the device's keyboard. When you're done, tap Next. Your address will be verified, and when it is, you'll see a New Message screen.
If you'd like to change this address later, simply launch the Settings app, tap Messages, and then tap the address that appears in the Receive At field in the resulting screen. In the next screen, titled iMessage, tap the Email field and enter a new email address. Alternatively, add another email address by tapping Add Another Email Address and then entering the address in the Email field that appears.
Tip:
Why have more than one email address associated with Messages? You may not care to share your personal email address with your colleagues at work or your work email address with certain friends. If you have multiple Messages addresses, you can still message people without spilling the beans about email accounts that you'd like to keep private.
Sending text messages
Using Messages is pretty straightforward. Just follow these steps:
- Tap Messages on the device's Home screen.
You see the Messages screen. - Tap the New Message button in the top-right corner of the screen. In the resulting New Messages screen, the cursor is placed in a To field, ready for you to address the message.
- To enter a name in this field, begin typing the name of the person you
want to message-or, if you have an iPhone 4S, tap the keyboard's Microphone key and say the name.
As you type, a list of matching names from your contacts list appears. Continue to type, and the list narrows. - To select a recipient, just tap that person's name.
Alternatively, you can tap the plus icon in the To field, which brings up the contacts list. Navigate to the contact you want to contact, and tap that person's name to add it to the To field.
Finally, if you have an iPod touch, you can enter an email address that you know is associated with an iMessage account; if you have an iPhone, you can enter a phone number or email address that's capable of receiving a message. - To add another recipient, simply tap the To field and start typing, just as you did before.
Regrettably, there's no way to send a message to an existing group in Contacts; you must add addresses one by one. - Tap the text field, and start typing-or, again, if you have an iPhone 4S, tap the Microphone button and dictate your message.
The field can display seven lines of text before the first line scrolls out of sight. - When you're ready to send your message, tap Send.
Tip:
By default, to save you money, an iPhone attempts to send a message to an email address rather than using SMS. Within the Messages setting screen is a Send As SMS switch, which is initially set to On. If you don't want Messages to send an SMS message after it fails to send a message to a contact's email address, turn this switch off.
iMessages vs. SMS Messages
It's easy to tell the difference between iMessages and SMS messages. iMessages (the free ones) you send are presented in a blue bubble, and the text field reads iMessage. Messages in a green bubble (as in the color of money in the United States) that you send are SMS messages that you pay for. When you're communicating via SMS, the text field reads Text Message. Messages that you receive are always in a gray bubble.