Help Offline Texting in Nexus 5

[Adnan1509]

Hi,

I am thinking of ordering the new Nexus next week.

As Hangouts has replaced the independent texting app in N5, will I receive my SMSs offline??

People have told me I won't. :'(

Will using another app like Go SMS Pro help?

This is a make or break issue for me.

Thanks in advance for all the responses.

Adnan

 

[iwoloschin]

As Hangouts has replaced the independent texting app in N5, will I receive my SMSs offline??

People have told me I won't. :'(

They are correct. It is impossible for your phone to receive texts, or any other network-based communications, while "offline." That's a physical impossibility, as to communicate on a network, you need to actually be connected to the network.

Now, maybe you're talking about WiFi only, with Mobile turned off? You won't get text messages on your phone's number, but you can use Google Voice to send/receive texts via WiFi only. It'll require using a different phone number, but it's pretty easy to set up.

 

[Omar Days]

They are correct. It is impossible for your phone to receive texts, or any other network-based communications, while "offline." That's a physical impossibility, as to communicate on a network, you need to actually be connected to the network.

Now, maybe you're talking about WiFi only, with Mobile turned off? You won't get text messages on your phone's number, but you can use Google Voice to send/receive texts via WiFi only. It'll require using a different phone number, but it's pretty easy to set up.

OP, do not listen to this absolute load of misinformation that is quoted!

I use the Hangouts app for texting only, and I am not signed in to any three of my gmail accounts at all, and I am able to send and receive texts. Even when I have wifi and mobile data turned off i can still send and receive text like normal.

 

[Omar Days]

And don't worry, if you find out you don't like Hangouts for texting, there are a whole bunch of sms alternatives in the Play Store.

 

[Adnan1509]

And don't worry, if you find out you don't like Hangouts for texting, there are a whole bunch of sms alternatives in the Play Store.

They are correct. It is impossible for your phone to receive texts, or any other network-based communications, while "offline." That's a physical impossibility, as to communicate on a network, you need to actually be connected to the network.

Now, maybe you're talking about WiFi only, with Mobile turned off? You won't get text messages on your phone's number, but you can use Google Voice to send/receive texts via WiFi only. It'll require using a different phone number, but it's pretty easy to set up.

Thanks for your response dude!

Yes, when I say "offline", I am referring to a situation where I have network coverage, but I am not connected to a WiFi network or using my mobile data.

To be precise, when I am not connected to the internet.

Can one of you please confirm if I need to be connected to the internet to receive SMSs through Hangouts?

Appreciate the help!

-Adnan

 

[BynoUK]

I've used hangouts and received texts when no wifi and data was present.

It's the default text app, it receives texts just fine bud. It does in my country anyway (UK) I never know how this works in other countries and I'm not sure where you're based.

 

[exninja]

OP, do not listen to this absolute load of misinformation that is quoted!

I use the Hangouts app for texting only, and I am not signed in to any three of my gmail accounts at all, and I am able to send and receive texts. Even when I have wifi and mobile data turned off i can still send and receive text like normal.

I second this. If you turn mobile data off, you can still receive SMS messages. If I have a bad data signal I'll turn mobile data off to save battery without any worry of missing SMS's.

HOWEVER, I have accidentally sent a hangouts chat message instead of SMS in the hangouts app. If that happens, you won't send or receive any hangouts chats while your mobile data is off. After using hangouts for 5 months now that mistake doesn't happen to me much anymore, but it's easily done when you're new to the hangouts app.

Like Omar Days said, if you get a different SMS app it's moot. I happen to like hangouts. It's grown on me.

 

[Adnan1509]

Thanks man!

Phew!!

 

[Rxpert83]

You won't receive messages from G+ while offline (IE no data connection), but you will recieve text messages as long as you have a network signal.

 

[mikedt]

Hi,

I am thinking of ordering the new Nexus next week.

As Hangouts has replaced the independent texting app in N5, will I receive my SMSs offline??

People have told me I won't. :'(

Will using another app like Go SMS Pro help?

This is a make or break issue for me.

Thanks in advance for all the responses.

Adnan

Something related to this, and as I'm looking to get a Nexus 5 very soon, I've just started playing with Hangouts this evening on my Samsung phone. Something that's not immiediately obvious to me with Hangouts, is how I send a text message to an arbitrary telephone number, e.g. +86*** and how to send to recepients that aren't on Google. which is most of my contacts.

I'm thinking it's because I'm in China, and so Hangouts is going to be limited to Google contacts and chat only, no SMS.

 

[jj14x]

Something that's not immiediately obvious to me with Hangouts, is how I send a text message to an arbitrary telephone number,

Hangouts isn't limited to just google contacts. It should work for SMS. Tap on the + sign (top right of the hangouts app), and in the text box at the top (where it says "Type a name, email, number or circle"), type in the phone#.
If it doesn't find the number in your phone book, it will show the option for "Send SMS to xxxxxxxxxx" below the field as you type in the number. Just tap on that, and it will get you to the compose page for a new SMS.

 

[Rxpert83]

Also note that you don't have to use hangouts. You can install any other text messaging app and use that instead if you prefer.

Android is all about choice after all

 

[mikedt]

Hangouts isn't limited to just google contacts. It should work for SMS. Tap on the + sign (top right of the hangouts app), and in the text box at the top (where it says "Type a name, email, number or circle"), type in the phone#.
If it doesn't find the number in your phone book, it will show the option for "Send SMS to xxxxxxxxxx" below the field as you type in the number. Just tap on that, and it will get you to the compose page for a new SMS.

Yeh I tried that, and all I'm getting is "Send chat invitation to." from the Hangouts app. Looks like in China, Hangouts is behaving exactly as Google Chat would. So for SMS and a Nexus in China, I would need to install a separate SMS app, like Handcent.

When I get the N5 and bring it back to the PRC, I will be posting much more about it. Really because Google are not exactly the best of friends with Beijing, and are subject to heavy censorship and other limitations.

 

[jj14x]

Yeh I tried that, and all I'm getting is "Send chat invitation to." from the Hangouts app. Looks like in China, Hangouts is behaving exactly as Google Chat would. So for SMS and a Nexus in China, I would need to install a separate SMS app, like Handcent.

In hangouts, go to settings/SMS. Does it show SMS enabled (first entry under General)?
(or go to home/settings/wireless&networks - what is "Default SMS App" set to? If it is not set to hangouts, change it to hangouts and then see if you can now send SMS from hangouts)

 

[Hook]

Yeh I tried that, and all I'm getting is "Send chat invitation to." from the Hangouts app. Looks like in China, Hangouts is behaving exactly as Google Chat would. So for SMS and a Nexus in China, I would need to install a separate SMS app, like Handcent.

When I get the N5 and bring it back to the PRC, I will be posting much more about it. Really because Google are not exactly the best of friends with Beijing, and are subject to heavy censorship and other limitations.

I really like 8sms, if it is available in China. It's not that there is anything wrong with Hangouts, per se, I'm just someone who really appreciates simple tools to do simple jobs.