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[Q] SMS Issues

I have recently got the X10i after yrs of a N95 ( sorry ), am doing my best to like the phone and am giving it every chance. I have lurked on this site and last week I rooted the phone and made it more personnal for me, thanks to the developers and those who provide the info for rooting.
I quickly removed the moxier stuff and also the messaging app but I am having issues with handcent sms, I wanted it for group/bulk texting tbh but it seems I have to restart the phone to get it to send a text to a group which has got 18 recipients.
Once the phone has started up I can send a group text no probs but the second group text will send to 1 or 2 of my contacts but the rest then fail, so I then restart the phone and resend the text and they get delivered, I have tried chompsms, grouptext and groupui, but each one gives me the same problem.
Has anybody got any ideas or another app I could try to resolve this issue ?

maybe it could be that the sms apps you use need (or work thanks) the main messaging app which were installed on the phone, the one you uninstalled.

Baldolo said:
maybe it could be that the sms apps you use need (or work thanks) the main messaging app which were installed on the phone, the one you uninstalled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont think it is that to be honest, I think it is more to do with the amount of contacts in the list, so I am hopeful that somebody confirms this and also gives me a better option.

carlccfc said:
I dont think it is that to be honest, I think it is more to do with the amount of contacts in the list, so I am hopeful that somebody confirms this and also gives me a better option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually this could be true, as you should not remove core system applications, such as messaging.

so, you can try resetting your phone using Update Service software on your pc. I tried searching for an SMS app in my mobile folder to share with you, but there are several files that may be connected togheter, about messaging, and I am not able to choose the right one (or ones) to share.

[Q] Group SMS

So on my iphone I could have group conversations with 3 other people and it would all be in the same conversation window, I but now, on my one x, when I try this it just sends to everyone individually. It works on my friends droid because he has the verizon messaging app which isn't available to att users (I think)
anyways I was just wondering if there was a simple solution to this (I've tried two 3rd party messaging apps with no luck)

Yeah, you're not gonna be able to get that, AFAIK. The "WhatsApp Messenger" app does this, but that's not actual text messaging, it's an IM app that uses your contacts phone numbers to identify them, and can only message other WhatsApp users.
Just for my own curiosity, when you would do this with your iPhone, would all the other participants be iPhone users? Or would it be a mixed bag of BB/Android/WP7/iPhone?

You should check out the app 'GroupMe'.
Great app that can do either real texting or over the internet messages.
The catch is, you have to message a 'Group number' and GroupMe then forwards that message on to everyone else.
This enables you to add/remove people to a conversation.
You can make these numbers private or public
I'm pretty sure they support every os and you can also just use their website to send messages.
It's all free which is the best part.

This is one of my biggest gripes with Android ICS. My Galaxy Nexus wasn't able to do group SMS either and, coming from an iPhone where I had lots of groups, it's a pain in the ass.
Also, using 3rd party apps that require every other person you want to chat with to also have the app is not a real solution. GroupMe is even worse than the rest b/c if someone EVER had the app (and no longer does) it doesn't recognize that and just doesn't deliver the message at all.

NextNexus said:
This is one of my biggest gripes with Android ICS. My Galaxy Nexus wasn't able to do group SMS either and, coming from an iPhone where I had lots of groups, it's a pain in the ass.
Also, using 3rd party apps that require every other person you want to chat with to also have the app is not a real solution. GroupMe is even worse than the rest b/c if someone EVER had the app (and no longer does) it doesn't recognize that and just doesn't deliver the message at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The awesome thing about GroupMe is you don't need the App at all. You can use their service purely through texting.

[email protected] said:
The awesome thing about GroupMe is you don't need the App at all. You can use their service purely through texting.
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Click to collapse
You didn't read what I wrote. If someone EVER had the app and got rid of it then the app doesn't recognize that and simply doesn't deliver the message at all. This is even worse than simply not being able to message people who don't have the app b/c now the sender has no clue whether their messages were delivered to each recipient.

NextNexus said:
You didn't read what I wrote. If someone EVER had the app and got rid of it then the app doesn't recognize that and simply doesn't deliver the message at all. This is even worse than simply not being able to message people who don't have the app b/c now the sender has no clue whether their messages were delivered to each recipient.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I am not mistaken, If the user changed his settings through the web interface he could set it up to be texting only again.
I have never ran in to this issue personally. When I removed the App from my phone I would still get the messages, just not through texts until I switched the settings.
Sorry for not fully understanding the first time.

Verizon Messages 11/19 update

So Verizon just pushed an update to their Messages app, which was a great replacement for the stock messaging app for several reasons. Unfortunately, all of the color customization options and popup notifications have been removed. I have no idea why they would do that, but it's terrible! I'll still use it though because it handles MMS group texts (with iPhone users) very well, unlike the stock app.
Anyone else use this? Anyone else bummed out by the latest update/regression?

US Marine said:
So Verizon just pushed an update to their Messages app, which was a great replacement for the stock messaging app for several reasons. Unfortunately, all of the color customization options and popup notifications have been removed. I have no idea why they would do that, but it's terrible! I'll still use it though because it handles MMS group texts (with iPhone users) very well, unlike the stock app.
Anyone else use this? Anyone else bummed out by the latest update/regression?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would install it when I got group messages but i'd uninstall after.
The notifications/pop-ups can be turned off but the default notifications won't appear. It's nice and I wish other SMS apps/CM10 could handle or implement the group feature so I wouldn't have to download this app.

1xmattx1 said:
I would install it when I got group messages but i'd uninstall after.
The notifications/pop-ups can be turned off but the default notifications won't appear. It's nice and I wish other SMS apps/CM10 could handle or implement the group feature so I wouldn't have to download this app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The pop-ups have been completely removed in the latest update, which was one of the major reasons to use the app!
I use group text a lot. I just got this GS3, so I'm still feeling it out. On my last phone (GS1), I used GoSMS Pro, which worked great except that I would get two notifications every time I got a group text. Once for recieving the text, and then another once GoSMS realized it's a group text and moved it into a group thread. That was annoying!

[Q] Android 4.4 Hangouts SMS issue

Hi there,
My first post here, although I've hung out, anonymously, looking at the resources within the forum.
Today I received my Nexus 5. It's a lovely bit of hardware, but I've come from an HTC phone (4.1.1 Desire X) and I love the Sense UI; just so you know, I hate stock 4.4 thus my post below is in utter exasperation
I'm having an issue with trying to send an SMS. Unfortunately, I have to use Hangouts (I refused to update from Google Talk on the Desire X) and I'm finding that I can't sending a frigging SMS to a colleague at work because I have his Gmail email address as part of his contact details!!!
This is absolutely the most retarded thing in a Phone OS that I have come across, ever. Unfortunately, as an early adopter of this phone, I'm stuck without an alternative. So far as I can see, in Hangouts, I would have to type in the phone number manually whilst being logged out of my Gmail accounts in Hangouts to send an SMS, or maybe deleting the user's email address would suffice.
Am I missing some way of sending an SMS that's not completely obvious here?

My N5 arrives tomorrow, so I can't be much help with the app itself, but if it's really confusing/awful you can download an alternative SMS app from the play store and set it as your default.
Edit: I hear you on hating hangouts. I cant stand the version they have on 4.0/4.1/4.2/4.3, been sticking with talk also.

I don't have it in my hands yet to test, but I'm fairly sure once you've opened the "new hangout" window, you can tap on their name on the upper left and switch to SMS from Hangout message.

two00lbwaster said:
Hi there,
My first post here, although I've hung out, anonymously, looking at the resources within the forum.
Today I received my Nexus 5. It's a lovely bit of hardware, but I've come from an HTC phone (4.1.1 Desire X) and I love the Sense UI; just so you know, I hate stock 4.4 thus my post below is in utter exasperation
I'm having an issue with trying to send an SMS. Unfortunately, I have to use Hangouts (I refused to update from Google Talk on the Desire X) and I'm finding that I can't sending a frigging SMS to a colleague at work because I have his Gmail email address as part of his contact details!!!
This is absolutely the most retarded thing in a Phone OS that I have come across, ever. Unfortunately, as an early adopter of this phone, I'm stuck without an alternative. So far as I can see, in Hangouts, I would have to type in the phone number manually whilst being logged out of my Gmail accounts in Hangouts to send an SMS, or maybe deleting the user's email address would suffice.
Am I missing some way of sending an SMS that's not completely obvious here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This app simply uses the word "Hangouts" over "SMS" so basically new hangout means new text message unless you specify a hangout chat. If the actual hangouts for either is unavailable then a text message will be automatically sent to the number. New "SMS" is the plus button and you can immediately type the number or scroll to find your contact. Everything after seems to work just like iMessage.

koriflame said:
My N5 arrives tomorrow, so I can't be much help with the app itself, but if it's really confusing/awful you can download an alternative SMS app from the play store and set it as your default.
Edit: I hear you on hating hangouts. I cant stand the version they have on 4.0/4.1/4.2/4.3, been sticking with talk also.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems to be the downside of having the device nice and early, noone else has one to confirm the issue.
Unfortunately, the other apps don't seem to work as they have to be rebuilt due to the changes that 4.4 has introduced

two00lbwaster said:
Seems to be the downside of having the device nice and early, noone else has one to confirm the issue.
Unfortunately, the other apps don't seem to work as they have to be rebuilt due to the changes that 4.4 has introduced
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what problem you are having. I just got my N5 today and when I create a new message in Hangouts and choose a contact (one that has a gmail.com email address as well as a cell number) I have the choice between starting a chat or sending an SMS to the phone number. Do you not see this?

Vincent Law said:
I don't have it in my hands yet to test, but I'm fairly sure once you've opened the "new hangout" window, you can tap on their name on the upper left and switch to SMS from Hangout message.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have a look to see if that works.
KinghtMare. said:
This app simply uses the word "Hangouts" over "SMS" so basically new hangout means new text message unless you specify a hangout chat. If the actual hangouts for either is unavailable then a text message will be automatically sent to the number. New "SMS" is the plus button and you can immediately type the number or scroll to find your contact. Everything after seems to work just like iMessage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never had an iPhone, which I'm guessing from the name is where that messaging application comes from. I tried to send a message to a collegue, and it sent it as a hangout, not an SMS. There is no option not to send it as an hangout, any more so than there is an option to send the message as a hangout, so I can't send him text messages.

davekr said:
I'm not sure what problem you are having. I just got my N5 today and when I create a new message in Hangouts and choose a contact (one that has a gmail.com email address as well as a cell number) I have the choice between starting a chat or sending an SMS to the phone number. Do you not see this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, yes, if I type in the person's name I now see several entries for the person, one is the Hangouts account which is top and the other is for SMS.
However, if I scroll down and select the person as I was doing originally, even though it says his phone number, it defaults to hangouts and you can't change it.
I don't have particularly many people in my contacts list so I prefer to scroll and select, as it's probably quicker for me, rather than type into the search box.

you need to verify your phone number before being able to use it for sms
hit the plus button and add a contact...then select the contact's name from the top of the screen (next to the green handouts icon), and choose their phone number instead of their email address
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

n7of9 said:
you need to verify your phone number before being able to use it for sms
hit the plus button and add a contact...then select the contact's name from the top of the screen (next to the green handouts icon), and choose their phone number instead of their email address
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite aside from not wishing to verify my number with Google, I shouldn't have to. SMS should be completely devoid of this kind of requirement as it is very basic mobile phone functionality.
I have spent quite some considerable time today turning off location services and and any data sent back to Google. I've also been disabling certain Google Apps and would disable more if it would let me. I've also found that App Ops seems to have been disabled too, so I can't even control what third party apps do; which was part of the reason for getting a 4.3+ phone.
At the moment, it seems that I can send messages, and hopefully something like Contacts+ will be updated to work with 4.4 and I can then disable Hangouts.

you can disable hangouts now, you just need to install an alternative sms app if you don't like the default...try Handcent
and don't be angry when someone is trying to help you
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

It's not hangout it's u
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 12:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:31 AM ----------
digweed4me said:
It's not hangout it's u
If u don't know how to use hangout tell google to put out I message crap on your nexus 5
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk

two00lbwaster said:
Quite aside from not wishing to verify my number with Google, I shouldn't have to. SMS should be completely devoid of this kind of requirement as it is very basic mobile phone functionality.
I have spent quite some considerable time today turning off location services and and any data sent back to Google. I've also been disabling certain Google Apps and would disable more if it would let me. I've also found that App Ops seems to have been disabled too, so I can't even control what third party apps do; which was part of the reason for getting a 4.3+ phone.
At the moment, it seems that I can send messages, and hopefully something like Contacts+ will be updated to work with 4.4 and I can then disable Hangouts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So install your own SMS app...4.4 allows you to use any SMS app as the default App, and then you can even uninstall Hangouts if you want to.
That's the beauty of a Nexus device.

n7of9 said:
you can disable hangouts now, you just need to install an alternative sms app if you don't like the default...try Handcent
and don't be angry when someone is trying to help you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I'm just angry that Google have just foisted the Hangouts app onto 4.4 users when it clearly isn't user friendly enough and makes one of my most common uses of the phone difficult.
I'll try Handcent. Contacts+/Messages+ doesn't currently seem to support 4.4 as you can't set it as the default messaging application and you can't send outgoing messages (It looks like you can send messages but they just disappear and aren't sent.)
hotleadsingerguy said:
So install your own SMS app...4.4 allows you to use any SMS app as the default App, and then you can even uninstall Hangouts if you want to.
That's the beauty of a Nexus device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue that I'm having is that not a lot of messaging applications support 4.4 yet. And as I've found with Messages+ if it doesn't support it you can have issues with messages that don't send/disappear.
You can uninstall Hangouts updates, you can't uninstall it. And if you uninstall the updates, you can't disable it.

Sliding messaging was updated to be compatible with 4.4, you can try it out
Sent from my AOSP on Flo using Tapatalk

I'm with the OP on this, I received my N5 today and it's almost impossible to start a new SMS conversation from within the app.
The app itelf is quite nice, but the SMS experience is sub-standard to say the least. I know I can go install another SMS app - but that's not the point, it's like shipping the phone/software with no dialer in it.

Scottland said:
I'm with the OP on this, I received my N5 today and it's almost impossible to start a new SMS conversation from within the app.
The app itelf is quite nice, but the SMS experience is sub-standard to say the least. I know I can go install another SMS app - but that's not the point, it's like shipping the phone/software with no dialer in it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I must be a brain scientist or a rocket surgeon or something... all I had to do to create to new SMS was click the "+" then start typing my contact's name or number. If my contact has a phone number associated with it I can select that for an SMS or their email for a hangout message......

Im confused and whether i understand your question properly. Anyways in the actual recipients message you can click their name and switch from a SMS conversation to a google talk/hangouts message. Not sure if that helped or not. You can more clearly see what i am talking about in this video. http://youtu.be/0ZFc3NFqfFk

BmoreTHOR said:
I must be a brain scientist or a rocket surgeon or something... all I had to do to create to new SMS was click the "+" then start typing my contact's name or number. If my contact has a phone number associated with it I can select that for an SMS or their email for a hangout message......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must be
I've just tried to send an SMS to my mum, on her contact card she has a mobile number and email address. When I try to send a message, at the top I only have "Hangouts" as an option.
If I try another contact (who does have a G+ account), I have the option of SMS or Hangouts.

I also discovered Now SMS recently... Very nice looking simple UI that fits with recent Android conventions. Using it on my Nexus 7 3G since it didn't come with any SMS client.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[Q] MMS in Apps other than Hangouts

Hello all,
For starters, some preliminaries:
ROM: ViperRom 3.2.1
Firmware: Latest (4.4.4)
Kernel, radios: Stock
Has anyone been having trouble with group MMS beyond the Hangouts app? The Hangouts app works like silk when it comes to group MMS - I can send/receive to all my friends (regardless of whether they have a smartphone or cell phone), it can play GIFs within the thread and it doesn't deliver messages at the wrong time (a 5:09pm message gets delivered before a 5:06 pm message). The problem with Hangouts is that it is slow and has odd kinks that drive me insane (when you send a message it doesn't show it unless you exit and reenter the message thread, three second delay to display contact when searching for number). The glaring issue is that it is an app that I simply do not use for it's native purpose - which is to create Hangouts and not use SMS. Nobody I know uses Hangouts, so I only use it for SMS.
I have tried literally every SMS app there is - Handcent, GOSMS, 8SMS, Hello, Textra, ChompSMS, Evolve SMS, Messaging (stock KitKat modified), HTC Messaging.
These apps all have a consistent problem - I cannot communicate with my cell phone friends in group chats. They receive blank messages and cannot read my replies. I've tried modifiying my APN but I am unable to create a new profile in Settings>Networks>APN. This is honestly strange to me because Hangouts works so flawlessly compared to all these other apps. Any suggestions?

genheals said:
Hello all,
For starters, some preliminaries:
ROM: ViperRom 3.2.1
Firmware: Latest (4.4.4)
Kernel, radios: Stock
Has anyone been having trouble with group MMS beyond the Hangouts app? The Hangouts app works like silk when it comes to group MMS - I can send/receive to all my friends (regardless of whether they have a smartphone or cell phone), it can play GIFs within the thread and it doesn't deliver messages at the wrong time (a 5:09pm message gets delivered before a 5:06 pm message). The problem with Hangouts is that it is slow and has odd kinks that drive me insane (when you send a message it doesn't show it unless you exit and reenter the message thread, three second delay to display contact when searching for number). The glaring issue is that it is an app that I simply do not use for it's native purpose - which is to create Hangouts and not use SMS. Nobody I know uses Hangouts, so I only use it for SMS.
I have tried literally every SMS app there is - Handcent, GOSMS, 8SMS, Hello, Textra, ChompSMS, Evolve SMS, Messaging (stock KitKat modified), HTC Messaging.
These apps all have a consistent problem - I cannot communicate with my cell phone friends in group chats. They receive blank messages and cannot read my replies. I've tried modifiying my APN but I am unable to create a new profile in Settings>Networks>APN. This is honestly strange to me because Hangouts works so flawlessly compared to all these other apps. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried Verizon Message+ ? That is what I am using and works well for me. I'm usually not a fan of Verizon Software, but the messaging app has a lot of options and doesn't seam to lag.

jsaxon2 said:
Have you tried Verizon Message+ ? That is what I am using and works well for me. I'm usually not a fan of Verizon Software, but the messaging app has a lot of options and doesn't seam to lag.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that app. Super clunky, definitely looking for a better alternative.

Interesting.
I have been running Viper also ( until yesterday actually).
I have been using Handcent and group messaging seems to work fine. At least no one has told me otherwise.
I do notice, with Handcent that from time to time SMS/mms messages seem to get hung up for quite a few minutes( see the spinning wheel next to message). I always though that was a network issue. You have me thinking otherwise now..
I have never tried hangouts for SMS. I might give it a whirl.

genheals said:
I tried that app. Super clunky, definitely looking for a better alternative.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Super clunky, okay. That's one way to describe it. lol. But did it work for group messaging? Have you tried a different rom? Viper is an international rom that has changes made for Verizon to work. Maybe there is a setting or library missing from Viper. Have you asked in that thread to see if anyone else has the same issues on Verizon?

jsaxon2 said:
Super clunky, okay. That's one way to describe it. lol. But did it work for group messaging? Have you tried a different rom? Viper is an international rom that has changes made for Verizon to work. Maybe there is a setting or library missing from Viper. Have you asked in that thread to see if anyone else has the same issues on Verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used CleanRom before this...really have no interest in switching ROMs but I see what you mean about it being international. I always had used Hangouts without compliant but it took a serious speed hit when it got updated/I updated to Viper

Tried many of them and constantly been sticking with Textra.

MoNsTeReNeRgY22 said:
Tried many of them and constantly been sticking with Textra.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recently discovered this app. Love it, its like what the new google messaging app should have been.

MoNsTeReNeRgY22 said:
Tried many of them and constantly been sticking with Textra.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on Textra. I had group messaging problems too until this app. There is an option under settings to use MMS for group messaging. I think it's off by default. Try switching it on and see how it goes. It fixed my probs, particularly when texting to/from iDevices.
Sent from my Gunmetal Grey M8

Does textra have gif support in the message threads?

madzozs said:
Does textra have gif support in the message threads?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like it does. Successfully sent and received one.
Sent from my Gunmetal Grey M8

Textra does not work on Viper, tried that one as well

genheals said:
Textra does not work on Viper, tried that one as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UPDATE: Some of the issues I have were actually due to me disabling animations in Developer Settings. Once I re-enabled animations, the issues with Hangouts "hanging" at the second to last message, rather then displaying my newly sent message, went away. The app also seems much smoother on the whole. I guess that disabling animations is a bigger detriment than benefit when it comes to Hangouts.
I still have the same group MMS issues in apps other than Hangout (people with basic feature phones only receive blank lines, rather than text). Hangouts remains the only texting app that works flawlessly with group MMS. It's a shame, because Textra is such a beautiful app.