Old iPhone and texting

[rh71]

Have an old iPhone 4s in the family that's on Page Plus minutes only. I signed up a Google Voice account just to be able to text from it whenever it's on wifi, which is sufficient, but the old iOS version apparently doesn't support the hangouts app, due to age. Is there another way to get the phone to text when on wifi?

EDIT> It is an iPhone 4, not 4s.

 

[dainthomas]

I put an app called Textfree on my daughter's iphone4. Works great since she can only use wifi. Even does wifi calling (you have to pay for minutes, but they're cheap).

 

[cronos]

Have an old iPhone 4s in the family that's on Page Plus minutes only. I signed up a Google Voice account just to be able to text from it whenever it's on wifi, which is sufficient, but the old iOS version apparently doesn't support the hangouts app, due to age. Is there another way to get the phone to text when on wifi?

That can't be right. My dad still had his iPhone 4s just two weeks ago, and it's updated all the way to iOS 9.3.2 or whatever the latest one is. He hasn't used Hangouts recently, so I can't confirm that it worked then (the phone has since been traded in), but I'm pretty sure Hangouts was usable on his phone sometime in the past year (after iOS 9 was out).

Speaking of texting on wifi, isn't that what iMessage does?

 

[cronos]

I put an app called Textfree on my daughter's iphone4. Works great since she can only use wifi. Even does wifi calling (you have to pay for minutes, but they're cheap).

It's a separate number though, right?

Edit: which in this case should work as the GV number was created strictly for texting. so this is a good solution.

 

[rh71]

That can't be right. My dad still had his iPhone 4s just two weeks ago, and it's updated all the way to iOS 9.3.2 or whatever the latest one is. He hasn't used Hangouts recently, so I can't confirm that it worked then (the phone has since been traded in), but I'm pretty sure Hangouts was usable on his phone sometime in the past year (after iOS 9 was out).

Speaking of texting on wifi, isn't that what iMessage does?

I'll double check Hangouts tomorrow, but iMessage is for Apple devices only right? I want to talk to Android devices mostly. Hangouts also does video chat, which would've been a bonus.

I'll also check out TextFree, thanks.

 

[MotionMan]

I'll double check Hangouts tomorrow, but iMessage is for Apple devices only right? I want to talk to Android devices mostly. Hangouts also does video chat, which would've been a bonus.

I'll also check out TextFree, thanks.

iPhone 4S definitely will run the latest iOS (but not iOS 10, when it comes out).

Messages can text to any device when on a regular data plan. My son can text from his unactivated iPhone to another iPhone using Messages, but only through iCloud. I do not believe one can use Messages to text to a non-iPhone without a data plan.

You can text from the Google Voice iOS App to any phone number. I have not used Hangouts, so I do not know if there are any limitations in its use on an unactivated iPhone (but any limitation would not be due to hardware or iOS 9.X).

MotionMan

 

[rh71]

Apologies, it is an iPhone 4, not a 4s (don't have it on me as it's my mom's). This may mean the difference in iOS support. I tried the GV app first and it's very buggy for it. As in buttons don't respond and field labels don't appear but you know it's supposed to be in that place.

 

[dainthomas]

It's a separate number though, right?

Edit: which in this case should work as the GV number was created strictly for texting. so this is a good solution.

Correct. But she only uses it as an ipod touch, so it doesn't have it's own number anyway.

 

[KeithP]

Did you try using Safari to text through the GV mobile site?

-KeithP

 

[rh71]

Grrr.. ok so it works with Hangouts, but only with messaging other Google Voice users. I tried typing in my personal cell# to text and it will only let me call, not text it.

Also it doesn't make a sound or notification when receiving a text back (checked notification center has it enabled). I'll try textfree...

 

[Red Storm]

Have you tried the actual Google Voice app on iOS? Not sure if it will work, but it is there.