Apple Users

NV Whino

(20,886 posts) Mon Dec 21, 2015, 03:10 PM Dec 2015

Question for my techno-geek friends

This is not specifically a Mac situation, but since I'm on Mac, I thought I would start here.

I live in an area where I do not get cell phone service at my house. All the gardeners, housekeepers and contractors I need to keep up with just love texting. However, no cell service, no texting.

So the question is, is there something I can set up to get text messages via e-mail? And, of course, send e-mail that becomes text messages?

12 replies

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Question for my techno-geek friends (Original Post) NV Whino Dec 2015 OP

Try google voice? aidbo Dec 2015 #1

There's a thought. NV Whino Dec 2015 #2

I go to my Google Voice page and can find no way to set up sms NV Whino Dec 2015 #5

It might be automatic. Try getting a friend to send a text to your google number. aidbo Dec 2015 #6

Who is your carrier? Indydem Dec 2015 #3

AT&T NV Whino Dec 2015 #4

I have no experience with it but . Pinger Textfree Web TexasProgresive Dec 2015 #7

Okay, I downloaded this NV Whino Dec 2015 #10

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Dec 2015 #8

Seeing the gps says is the problem. NV Whino Dec 2015 #9

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Dec 2015 #11

Yeah, it's weird NV Whino Dec 2015 #12

aidbo

(2,328 posts)

1. Try google voice?

Reply to NV Whino (Original post)

Mon Dec 21, 2015, 03:25 PM

Dec 2015

http://www.howtogeek.com/221476/how-to-send-sms-messages-from-any-pc-or-mac/

This article mentions messages on Mac which works with iPhone etc.
but if you don't have cell service I believe you can text using google voice. (Third section of the article)

NV Whino

(20,886 posts)

2. There's a thought.

Reply to aidbo (Reply #1)

Mon Dec 21, 2015, 03:36 PM

Dec 2015

But let me tell you a Google Voice story.

I have a Google number, but haven't used it very often. So, it asked me to verify that I still want the number. Okay, fine. But they confirm by calling my cell phone where I don't get service at my house where I'm on the computer trying to verify. So, I don't know if I still have Google voice or not. It's probably something I can solve if I have a couple of spare hours and my patient level is high.

Thanks for the suggestion. If no one comes up with a different solution, I'll gird my loins and wade into the Google morass.

NV Whino

(20,886 posts)

5. I go to my Google Voice page and can find no way to set up sms

Reply to aidbo (Reply #1)

Mon Dec 21, 2015, 05:26 PM

Dec 2015

aidbo

(2,328 posts)

6. It might be automatic. Try getting a friend to send a text to your google number.

Reply to NV Whino (Reply #5)

Mon Dec 21, 2015, 05:48 PM

Dec 2015

Indydem

(2,642 posts)

3. Who is your carrier?

Reply to NV Whino (Original post)

Mon Dec 21, 2015, 03:37 PM

Dec 2015

Do you have an iPhone?

NV Whino

(20,886 posts)

4. AT&T

Reply to Indydem (Reply #3)

Mon Dec 21, 2015, 05:24 PM

Dec 2015

No iPhone. Tracfone, and is Android based I think. It's an LG.

TexasProgresive

(12,158 posts)

7. I have no experience with it but . Pinger Textfree Web

Reply to NV Whino (Original post)

Mon Dec 21, 2015, 05:52 PM

Dec 2015

is an app that might work for you. Here's a link to PC world piece on it:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/242252/send_and_receive_text_messages_on_your_pc.html
Even though coming from PC World maybe it works on MAC as well.

NV Whino

(20,886 posts)

10. Okay, I downloaded this

Reply to TexasProgresive (Reply #7)

Mon Dec 21, 2015, 06:54 PM

Dec 2015

You get a specific phone number to use. No problem there, but if you don't use it, it expires in 30 days.

Except for that, it got pretty good reviews.

Response to NV Whino (Original post)

guyton This message was self-deleted by its author.

NV Whino

(20,886 posts)

9. Seeing the gps says is the problem.

Reply to guyton (Reply #8)

Mon Dec 21, 2015, 06:26 PM

Dec 2015

Honestly you'd think I live in Siberia or something. Actually, Siberia probably has better cell service than I do.

Response to NV Whino (Reply #9)

guyton This message was self-deleted by its author.

NV Whino

(20,886 posts)

12. Yeah, it's weird

Reply to guyton (Reply #11)

Mon Dec 21, 2015, 08:31 PM

Dec 2015

There's plenty of sky available, but apparently the sats avoid my part of it.

I had a Garmin for a while. In order to set my home address I had to go drive a quarter mile or so.

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