How to text more than one person iPhone

I want to send "Happy Thanksgiving!" to 35 different people, but I do not want it to be treated as a group message. How can this be accomplished on the iPhone 4S (with or without jailbreak applications, such as biteSMS) with iOS 5.1.1?

The reasons that I would not want it treated as a group message are:

• I do not want the recipients to see the numbers of other recipients
• I do not want the recipients' replies to go to multiple people
• I do not want the recipients' replies to be grouped in a group message, but to instead be part of each individual thread
• depending on the message, I may specifically not want a given recipient to know that other recipients received the same message.

Optimally, the solution would also allow pictures to be attached and would automatically send iMessages instead of text messages to iOS users - but those parts are less important than being able to send plain text messages.

One of the most commonly requested features not available by default on the iPhone is the ability to send text messages (SMS) to multiple recipients. Thanks to a new third-party native application created by Shawn Chain, you can now do just that. Dubbed iSMS, the new application also allows you to view messages by category (Inbox, Sent, Draft) and search text messages directly on the iPhone.

Here's how to use this beefed-up SMS application:

• If your iPhone isn't yet set up to receive third-party applications, follow our applications guide and make sure you install Community Sources (as instructed). Next, launch Installer and install iSMS from the "Network" section.
• Launch iSMS, and all of your backlogged text messages will be organized and accessible by the application. Tap the "Message" button in the lower-left portion of the screen to access them.
• To create a message, tap the icon that looks like a pencil writing on a notepad in the upper-right corner (the same icon that's used to create new mail messages in the iPhone's Mail application).
• To send a message to multiple recipients, tap the new message icon, then tap the button to add a recipient from your contact list. Tap the button again to add another recipient, and so forth.
• The search function works exactly as you'd expect: Tap the Search button, enter a term, and press "Search." A list of items containing the term will appear, with the date of sending/receipt indicated.

iSMS boasts some other great capabilities not included in Apple's iPhone SMS application:

• forward SMS messages by tapping an individual message, then tapping the forward button (an arrow icon -- the same used to forward in the iPhone's Mail app).
• call the sender or receiver of a particular text message directly by tapping the "call" button while viewing an individual message.
• access a list of predefined messages by tapping the "Template" button.
• Insert smileys via icons by tapping the "Smiley" button.

Feedback? .

1. https://forums.imore.com/showthread.php?t=311670&s=74ed39592227645a7e943169c3d6dc93&p=2414809&viewfull=1#post2414809

   I want to send the same message to more than one person at the same time from my contacts list

   12-14-2014 03:50 AM

   Like 0

2. https://forums.imore.com/showthread.php?t=311670&s=74ed39592227645a7e943169c3d6dc93&p=2414812&viewfull=1#post2414812

   Go to the message app. In the up right corner it's a little icon to compose a new message. Click on that, than you gonna see the "To" bar, where you have to add the receiver of the message. On the right side it's a little plus button. Click on it and from there you can choose as many people as you wish.

   Sent from my iPhone 6 PLUS!

   12-14-2014 04:10 AM

   Like 0

3. https://forums.imore.com/showthread.php?t=311670&s=74ed39592227645a7e943169c3d6dc93&p=2414863&viewfull=1#post2414863

   12-14-2014 08:44 AM

   Like 1

There may be times when you need to send the same message to multiple people from your Apple iPhone 8 or X, such as to alert family members to things going on in your home or life. Instead of copying and pasting the message multiple times, you can simply send it to multiple people all at once.

To send one message to several recipients at a time:

1. Tap on the “Messages” app on your iPhone to open it.
2. Tap on the square notepad icon in the top right-hand corner of your screen to begin a new message.
3. Once the new message window is open, you’ll notice a blue and white plus sign (+) at the very far right side of the “To:” field. Tap on this button to open your address book.
4. Scroll to the first person you wish to add to your mass-text list and tap their name. Their number will automatically be placed in the “To:” field of the text. Repeat this process until all of your recipients have been chosen.
   Alternately, instead of clicking the plus sign and scrolling through your list, you can type the first couple of letters for each person’s name in the “To:” field. A list of all people whose names begin with those numbers will show up and you can simply tap on the one you want to have it added to the “To:” field.
5. Once your contacts have been selected, simply type your message and hit the “Send” button as normal.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when sending mass texts in this manner:

• If a contact has more than one number listed in your address book, you will be given the option to choose which of their numbers you wish to send the message to. Be sure to only select a mobile number during this step.
• When you send a message to multiple recipients, they will all be able to see each others’ phone numbers. If you have a contact who isn’t a close friend or family member, always get their permission before including them in mass texting lists.
• If you want to include a person in this mass text who isn’t already in your contact list, you can either first add them to Contacts or simply manually type in their number.

That’s all there is to it! Happy texting.

Stay connected to the conversations that matter to you the most. Find out how to start a group text message with your friends, family and colleagues.

There are three types of group message you may see: group iMessage, group MMS and group SMS. The Messages app automatically chooses the type of group message to send based on your settings, network connection and network provider plan. For example:

• If you and your recipients are using Apple devices and iMessage is turned on, then the group message is sent as an iMessage.
• If you send a group message to people who aren't using iMessage, then the message is sent as an MMS or SMS message.

 

These messages will appear in blue text bubbles. They go through Apple instead of your network provider and are protected by end-to-end encryption. In a group iMessage, everyone can:

• Send and receive photos, videos and audio messages
• See all responses from the group
• Send and receive message effects, such as sketches, animations, bubble effects and more
• Share their location with the group
• Give the group a name, add or remove people from the group, mute notifications or leave the group

 

These messages appear in green text bubbles and go through your provider instead of Apple. In a group MMS, everyone can:

• Send and receive photos and videos
• See all responses from the group
• Mute notifications

These messages also appear in green text bubbles and go through your provider. Group SMS messages don’t support multimedia attachments, such as photos or videos. All responses in a group SMS are sent as individual text messages and the recipients can’t see the other responses from the group.

 

1. Open Messages and tap the Compose button 
   
   .
2. Enter the names or tap the Add button 
   
    to add people from your contacts.
3. Enter your message, then tap the Send button 
   
   .

To send a group MMS message on an iPhone, make sure MMS Messaging is turned on. Go to Settings > Messages and turn on MMS Messaging. If you can’t see an option to turn on MMS Messaging or Group Messaging, contact your provider to see if your plan supports Group MMS Messaging.

With iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, photos, links and other content that are sent within the group message will appear in the Shared with You section of the corresponding content apps. If you don’t want to see the photos and other content in Shared with You, go to the group message, tap the top of the thread, then turn off Show in Shared with You.

Thanks for your feedback.