T-mobile, z3, group texts... - Xperia Z3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I just got the xperia z3 and am having an issue with group texting, i.e. mms group texts.
It seems as though the z3 will allow outgoing group texts, but incoming group texts come in as individual messages (not part of the conversation). This seems to be an issue with the native texting app. From what i have found online, that is the way the native texting app is. Really sucks for a $630 phone.
So Textra seems to be a good option to help with this. This app does seems to allow group mms messages in normal format. YEA! However, this seem to only work well over the cellular system. Tmobile seems to not allow MMS messages over WIFI. Textra has a specific T-mobile workaround that claims to turn off wifi when sending or receiving MMS messages. This seems to mostly work, however this has intermittently turned off my wifi, and also generates warnings that my calls won't work over wifi.
At work, my cell cell phone signal is poor, but wifi is good. I would like to be able to use wifi for calls as well as group messages.
Any suggestions?

rglewisjr said:
I just got the xperia z3 and am having an issue with group texting, i.e. mms group texts.
It seems as though the z3 will allow outgoing group texts, but incoming group texts come in as individual messages (not part of the conversation). This seems to be an issue with the native texting app. From what i have found online, that is the way the native texting app is. Really sucks for a $630 phone.
So Textra seems to be a good option to help with this. This app does seems to allow group mms messages in normal format. YEA! However, this seem to only work well over the cellular system. Tmobile seems to not allow MMS messages over WIFI. Textra has a specific T-mobile workaround that claims to turn off wifi when sending or receiving MMS messages. This seems to mostly work, however this has intermittently turned off my wifi, and also generates warnings that my calls won't work over wifi.
At work, my cell cell phone signal is poor, but wifi is good. I would like to be able to use wifi for calls as well as group messages.
Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In Textra settings what has worked for me the best is to select the option that says about T-mobile wifi calling fix, not the one that says that will disable the wifi temporarily. I have a d6603 (Unlocked) but it's the same way I have it on my T-Mobile Galaxy S5.

A lot of people at the iPhone forums are having this issue with T-Mobile...yes I have an iPhone don't judge...so yes I think this issue is more of a T-Mobile related issue then a z3 issue

The group mms is a Sony issue. The wifi calling/txting is the Tmobile issue. To get texts they modify the stock msg app, so if youre using another msg app you aren't going to get txt over wifi.

Related

[Q] Best Group MMS app?

Something I have noticed with my m8 is that when I am in a mms group chat, it takes a while to download the messages. If I am in a group chat with my friend with an iphone, he receives the texts about 10-20 seconds before I do, I know what app you use makes a different and I am using textra which I love but is there an app that will better handle group chats or is it just something to do with android that is causing this.
Are you all on the same carrier? I would assume it would be a carrier/networking delay initially if you're on different carriers. But I use Handscent SMS for group messaging and haven't had any issues with iPhone or Android users. Might try that to see if it affects the delay. I wouldn't think it would help though.
Also, if the person that's sending the message is on an iPhone as well, then your friend that's on an iPhone is probably receiving it through iMessage, not SMS, so he's definitely going to have less of a delay that way since it's just using data/IM and not the carrier's SMS system.
I experience the same thing on hangouts except my delay is typically longer than 20 seconds. Not massive concern but its embarrassing in front of my iPhone friends
Same carrier and same location and its through group mms not imessage or sms. I used to use hangout and had trouble sending messages and textra seems to do it better so I thought maybe it had to do with the app

I can barely text on my z3. What to do?

I just switched from iphone and i can barely group message. I had a group message back in iphone with my friends and now i cant send pictures in it. Its just a black boz what they see. I also have to implement the tmobile wifi calling fix on it even though i disabled wifi calling. I already set my mms settings to no data limit for stuff being sent, i cant change my apn, and i already sent my number to apple so i dont get imessages and i disabled imessage from my old phone. What do i do?
andreezi said:
I just switched from iphone and i can barely group message. I had a group message back in iphone with my friends and now i cant send pictures in it. Its just a black boz what they see. I also have to implement the tmobile wifi calling fix on it even though i disabled wifi calling. I already set my mms settings to no data limit for stuff being sent, i cant change my apn, and i already sent my number to apple so i dont get imessages and i disabled imessage from my old phone. What do i do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you unable to receive messages in general or just unable to receive MMS? Since you said you can disable wifi calling, I assume you have the T-Mobile variant and not the unlocked. Try redownloading the internet settings and make sure that your settings are correct in your Mobile Network Settings. Either way, you should contact T-Mobile to help configure your phone and resolve your problem. Customer service isn't that bad at T-Mobile.
If the problem is the app being unable to send group texts, you should try a different app like Google Messenger or Hangouts.
Best of luck

Textra's MMS Techniques

Sprint's mindblowingly fast 3G network has forced me time and time again to download Textra in order to send and receive MMS consistently. That's fine, it's a great app, but, to be honest, I prefer Google Messenger's Material look and feel. Here's the problem: Textra has the ability to send MMS over WiFi and it works wonders. Group MMS and pictures send almost instantly. So to regular text messages. With Google Messenger, I usually get a blank message that says "Tap to Download". That's annoying and they usually never download.
So what is it that Textra does differently? Is it a particular APN that they use or switch to when sending? If so, I'd like to identify this APN so that I can attempt to use the APN all the time and perhaps make it possible to send MMS over WiFi using any Messaging app, not just Textra.
Alcolawl said:
Sprint's mindblowingly fast 3G network has forced me time and time again to download Textra in order to send and receive MMS consistently. That's fine, it's a great app, but, to be honest, I prefer Google Messenger's Material look and feel. Here's the problem: Textra has the ability to send MMS over WiFi and it works wonders. Group MMS and pictures send almost instantly. So to regular text messages. With Google Messenger, I usually get a blank message that says "Tap to Download". That's annoying and they usually never download.
So what is it that Textra does differently? Is it a particular APN that they use or switch to when sending? If so, I'd like to identify this APN so that I can attempt to use the APN all the time and perhaps make it possible to send MMS over WiFi using any Messaging app, not just Textra.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know it's been a while but I literally just reached the same conclusion and I'm confused too. Did you ever figure it out?
a9uirre said:
I know it's been a while but I literally just reached the same conclusion and I'm confused too. Did you ever figure it out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I don't think I ever figured it out. I fiddled around with APNs and the like but it really came down to poor service from Speinr. MMS over WiFi definitely improved my experience but wasn't always practical when out and about. I switched to T-Mobile and never looked back.
I'm now with Google Fi and I notice wonky behavior sometimes when using Sprint's network like texts sending twice, etc. I really think a lot of it has to do with poor service and/or the network itself. Though, MMS over WiFi works perfectly when the phone is using Sprint's network.

MMS Over Wifi

In an effort to squeeze a little extra battery life from my phone I setup a tasker profile to disable mobile data when on Wifi.
Unfortunately, that means I can't get MMS messages when on Wifi. I'm using hangouts, but don't think it's hangouts specific. Any one know if there's a way to make this work? Thanks.
I think you should keep mobile data on anyway, as Android prioritizes Wifi over data. So when connected to Wifi, data is simply disconnected, but not disabled. So sending MMS is still possible even while connected via wifi.
rand0m_insanity said:
I think you should keep mobile data on anyway, as Android prioritizes Wifi over data. So when connected to Wifi, data is simply disconnected, but not disabled. So sending MMS is still possible even while connected via wifi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I don't disagree. The problem is for about 15 hours a week I'm in a place where I have abysmal cell coverage. When I'm there my battery goes to crap, I was hoping this would help with it.
Google voice hangout works fine over MMS
frigidazzi said:
Google voice hangout works fine over MMS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is you can't send receive MMS over Wifi, for some reason it has to use the cellular data.
rbrenart said:
The problem is you can't send receive MMS over Wifi, for some reason it has to use the cellular data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With Google voice you can. I do it all the time. Only use air plane mode with Wi-Fi at work and usually at home... But I'm assuming you aren't using Google voice.
frigidazzi said:
With Google voice you can. I do it all the time. Only use air plane mode with Wi-Fi at work and usually at home... But I'm assuming you aren't using Google voice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, I see what you're saying... no, only using Google Voice for voicemail. I must admit, I never did really figure that product out completely.
Nextplus
I use next plus for WiFi text, gives you a separate phone number as well
It depends, I don't use hangouts I use stock sms and MMS sent to my number requires data from the provider, stored on their servers till the image expires, or log into my account to view the image
Are the people sending you these images use hangouts and are logged in?, assuming it will send via Google's services
With 5.1.1 there seems to be a bug with WiFi and data cross over, if I have both on, sometimes data stays on instead of wifi while the phone is sleeping at home, then it switches over when display is on,another reason why I don't leave it on.
It's not about images, it's about MMS for group text messages. And some use hangouts and some do not. Some use android, some use iphone.
rbrenart said:
It's not about images, it's about MMS for group text messages. And some use hangouts and some do not. Some use android, some use iphone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm.. It should be fine, then.
I tested it with a friend who is on Android. We disabled our mobile data and we could send MMS group messages.
(From Hangouts to Hangouts, no SMS involved. I cannot text using it, anyway, being on iPhone).
Sent from my iPhone 5S using Tapatalk
EvilKittyCupcake said:
Hmm.. It should be fine, then.
I tested it with a friend who is on Android. We disabled our mobile data and we could send MMS group messages.
(From Hangouts to Hangouts, no SMS involved. I cannot text using it, anyway, being on iPhone).
Sent from my iPhone 5S using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suggest any one who wants to try for themselves test then, because on my setup I would not get the MMS. It may have been due to emoticons or something else I'm not thinking of, but I clearly remember the separate SMS from my wife asking why I was ignoring everyone on the group text

[Q] MMS & other questions

Greetings,
My son has a Nexus 5 that I recently rooted for him. He is running the stock 6.0 rom. He is having times when he can not receive MMS messages. It will just sit there downloading. This was a problem before he was rooted. I had him try messenger instead of hangouts & that worked for a while but started again yesterday. After I rebooted, it seemed to work for now. Any thoughts? He also has a similar problem downloading torrents. Sometimes it works & sometimes nothing will work. Would going to a different rom help? Maybe Pure Nexus or CM13. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Pat Callaghan
The obvious thing would be the settings. Have you checked the MMS settings with your carrier's website? And (unless I'm badly mistaken) MMS works on data (in the UK at least), so it needs to be switched on to allow the phone to receive MMS messages.
Or do you mean that it's intermittent ("He is having times when he can not receive MMS messages"), in which case it may just be the signal?
dahawthorne said:
The obvious thing would be the settings. Have you checked the MMS settings with your carrier's website? And (unless I'm badly mistaken) MMS works on data (in the UK at least), so it needs to be switched on to allow the phone to receive MMS messages.
Or do you mean that it's intermittent ("He is having times when he can not receive MMS messages"), in which case it may just be the signal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I checked the setting to make sure he can receive MMS. Also, data is on & working. As far as the signal strength, if it was low would not all SMS & MMS not be received?
Pat
Pat, I'm an end-user as I guess you are, so I can't talk sensibly about the technicalities. I do know from experience that SMS and MMS are separate functions - you can receive SMSs any time that you have a signal, but if your MMS settings aren't perfectly configured you don't get the messages. On a number of occasions I've had a pop-up saying "You have an MMS message" but it wasn't downloaded until I specifically enabled data (even though wifi was already enabled).
Actually, that last sentence raises a question in my own head. If both wifi and data are on, Android will prefer wifi - I wonder if it actually disables data, or would an MMS still arrive even though wifi is overriding data? Maybe somebody who knows what they're talking about can help us both...
You didn't answer my question about whether it's intermittent. Has the phone ever received MMS? If so, when did it stop? If it has never received them, I would really double-check your carrier website and look particularly for different advice - my own UK provider's forum has a number of pages, and there are several different MMS configurations, all of them claiming to be the definitive settings...

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