Texting over wifi?
 

Here is the deal, The wife and I have i phones and mostly use the new apple free text service because we have the apple account, she just got an ipad but only with wifi, she can still text me using the apple account from the ipad but how can she text the kids phones that are not i phones??

Is there an app for that?? SmileWavy

if she is using iOS 5 or greater, she can also use the free apple text on the iPad but only to communicate with other iOS 5 devices. or in other words, not with another type of phone besides an iPhone.

That being said, there is an app for that, and here is one of many..:
Free Texting with the iPad Wi-Fi and iPad 3G | Text Apps Designed for the iPhone: Textfree | Que

Google voice...


With a free google voice number she can also text from any computer.

Do both people need the textfree app? because my kids don't have access to apps they can download on their phones.

The google voice will text any number like a normal phone.

Skype would work.

Ian

You could also use AIM...

My kids phones are pretty basic, I don't think they they even have aim and really no data contract either.

Google voice.... Seriously look at it and the iPhone app....

I got a google voice with an OKC area number.... I can use it to mimic a local call when I want to call about something, or sell something on Craigslist as well....

But I can use it to text ANY NUMBER for free from any web device...

Would you port your current number with google voice or choose a new one?? I checked it out, it looks pretty cool and no risk!

Uses a new number...

She can use iChat and it will go right to any mobile phone. In the iChat window for each person, you just have to enter their mobile phone #. If they are not "online" as a buddy, anything she types will go straight to the phone, any reply they type will go right to her iChat.

You don't need any extra anything.

If you or your family doesn't have AIM screennames, you can always go to iChat and use

File -> Send SMS

and type in a phone number and send a text to it.

iChat on the iPad? I don't see it...

Well that's no good.

I imagine any Chat app would work; iChat is all I know and it has "Send SMS" in the file menu.

Yep it works with the AIM app too; just type in the phone number.

I use Google voice...texting for free from your gmail account. It's great. I don't pay for a texting plan and I use free wi-fi for Internet - no data plan either.

Ipod Touch
 

Do the apps mentioned also work for the Ipod Touch. My daughter got one for Xmas. It is wifi only and she wants to text w/ her friends.

Any suggestions other than what has already been mentioned?

TIA

Google voice...

There are no fees on the ipod touch so she can use most any messengering app I would think.

MauleM5 235, good screen name!:D

TextNow
 

FWIW, my daughter just installed TextNow on her Ipod Touch. It seems to work OK for her.

TextPlus for the iPod Touch.

With the new version you even get assigned a "phone number" and you can text (and receive texts from) anyone with a mobile phone.

d.

+1 on google voice and all the freebie features.

You can also just use your email service.

Address bar their phone number and the applicable .com or .net....for whatever provider they are using.

ie.....3608259991@vtext.com for verison

ie.....3608259991@txt.att.net for At&t.

Just find the provider and the syntax for it.

I never understood why people pay more for products that do less just because it has an Apple label. You can get a decent smart phone on the Straight Talk system that does unlimited everything for $45 a month.

You can get mp3s at gomusicnow.com for 9 cents yet people are happy paying 11 times more for iTunes.

Is it that they just don't know?

Not sure what you mean, Dennis... we're talking wi-fi texting, not smartphones. I don't have a cellphone at all but find my iPod handy to send and receive texts using wi-fi.

Ok. New to me I admit. Why not just send an email?

Because although you can receive a text message on a non-smart phone, you can't get email on one.

Dennis, I've played with those cheap android phones... I used to sell sprint, att, tmobile, and Boost.... They aren't the same.... I've laid hands on them all, and yet I still held out for an iPhone 4S, and I'm very happy...

Tell me what your straight talk phone does that my iPhone doesnt?

And I could have gotten an EVO on a very cheap plan....

The one big limit on the iPhone is no Flash & no playing a WMV. Other than those two items which is 100% Steve Jobs descision the iPhone is a nice device.