Through the free messaging service iMessage you can send messages, photos and videos to all owners of an Apple device.
iMessage is a service that is enabled on all Apple devices, able to send text messages but also stickers, photos, voice, video. The exchange can only take place between devices of the same brand using the internet connection. There is only one cost, that of activation, which is equal to 0.30 euros or the cost of an international sms. There are no other recurring costs afterwards.
So you can send messages for free, obviously only and exclusively if you have a 3G/4G or WiFi internet connection. You can communicate with all other users who have an iMessage account, otherwise you send a standard message at the cost that provides its rate profile for a text message. In case you need to reactivate the service after a momentary deactivation, then you will have to pay the activation cost again.
How to activate iMessage
To use iMessage you must obviously activate it, it is a service offered by Apple, as we have seen, on every iPhone and home device. The procedure on the smartphone takes very little time, you just need to have an active internet connection.
Once the iPhone is connected to the network, then go to settings via the gear wheel that you find in the home. Then select the Messages item, then Use your Apple ID for iMessage, enter the password and hit Sign In. It’s a piece of cake.
Once you’re signed in with your account, then you can move the toggle you find right next to the iMessage item, to switch from Off to On mode. This will bring you a notification that warns you that the operator may subtract the cost of an international text message (that’s what we said in fact about activation costs). Clicking Ok you have finished the activation.
The last step is to configure iMessage, so tap on Send and Receive and indicate the way you want to receive messages. You can select your number or email address for reception and then, under Start, you can select a number or email address to use as the default sender for all the messages you send with iMessage.
How to use iMessage
Using this service offered by Apple is really very simple, just follow the normal procedure for sending a standard text message. So start the messaging app that you have on your smartphone, which is the green one with the white cloud type cartoon, then select the pencil icon and write a new message. In the To: field you have to type the number of the person to whom you want to send the text, with the + symbol you choose to add one that you have already saved in your address book.
If the contact you have chosen has an Apple device and has iMessage active, then the window of the message you are about to send will turn into that of an iMessage, you will also recognize it by the color of the contact that will turn blue instead of green. You will be able to send text, audio, images and video for free, just by using your internet connection.
Now you just have to type all the text of the message you want to send and press the icon that has the shape of a blue arrow to send it. If you want to record a voice message, to be sent with iMessage, then hold down the button that represents the microphone, to listen to the audio press the play icon. If you want to send it then press the arrow, if you want to delete it without sending it instead press X and it will be deleted.
How to deactivate iMessage
If you have decided not to use iMessage anymore for any reason, know that as you could activate it, you can also deactivate it in a very simple and fast way. If you still have your iPhone handy, make sure your smartphone connects properly to the cellular data network. In this way you can access the iOS settings, always using the icon in the shape of a gear wheel that you find in the home screen of the phone.
In the menu that appears should be selected the item related to Messages, scroll a little ‘to find it, is located approximately halfway through the screen. All you have to do is move the iMessage toggle from On to Off, which then turns grey and means that iMessage has been disabled.