Home > Articles

Free Texting with the iPad Wi-Fi and iPad 3G

Is text messaging a critical part of your mobile lifestyle? You don't have to give up on the iPad just because it doesn't come with native texting capabilities. With a little help from Matthew David and the iTunes App Store, you'll be texting on your new iPad in no time.
Like this article? We recommend

Like this article? We recommend

Over 1 million iPads have now been sold, but a key element missing from all of them is the ability to send text messages—a core feature found on every iPhone. Although it's not a native feature, you actually can text message with your iPad. This article shows you how to turn your iPad into a world-class texting machine.

Two different iPads are on the market:

  • iPad with Wi-Fi only
  • iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G

The apps that allow you to send text will work with both iPad versions. The big difference happens when you're receiving messages:

  • The iPad without 3G picks up text messages only when you're in a Wi-Fi hotspot. Step away from the hotspot, and there goes your Internet connection—along with any text messages you should be receiving.
  • The iPad with 3G gives you mobility, because the 3G connection allows you to stay connected no matter where you go. Another great thing about the 3G iPad is that it's optimized for 3G wireless speeds. When the 3G network isn't strong enough, however, this iPad automatically drops down to the slower EDGE connection, which is fine for text messages.

Text Apps Designed for the iPhone: Textfree

Apple made a smart move with the iPad by giving it the ability to run iPhone apps. This has the immediate benefit of allowing you to buy one app and run it on two different devices—your iPhone/iPod Touch and your iPad.

At the time of writing, the iTunes App Store has about 100 apps designed to allow the iPhone to do texting. Of all these apps, Textfree is arguably the most popular. As the name implies, Textfree is a free app. It runs as an iPhone app, sitting in the middle of your screen, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Textfree starts as an iPhone application.

As with all iPhone apps, you can double-size the app on your iPad by clicking the 2x button in the lower-right corner (see Figure 2).

Figure 2 Textfree doubled in size to fill the iPad screen.

Unlike many iPhone apps, the Textfree app looks good at the larger size. You also get some bonus benefits, such as a larger keyboard.

Getting the app running takes only one screen, as shown in Figure 3. The first time you log into Textfree, you need to create an account that your contacts will use to text you.

Figure 3 Textfree setup is quick and easy.

With setup complete, you're free to send and receive text messages (see Figure 4). Textfree uses an email address as your text ID. Your friends can text you at your Textfree account as long as they have MMS text support, which most carriers offer. No cost is involved when you send a text message, but normal texting charges apply to people who send text messages to you from their cell phones (unless they're also using Textfree).

Figure 4 After setting up Textfree, you can text anyone on any mobile carrier that offers MMS texting.

Textfree comes packed with great features. A familiar texting feature copied from the iPhone's default texting is the bubble conversation used to track texts going back and forth (see Figure 5).

Figure 5 Bubble text is used to track conversations.

Textfree comes with a number of settings you can change, including custom themes, notification sounds, and signatures. To change the settings, follow these steps:

  1. With Textfree open, select the ratchet icon along the top of the app to go to the settings screen. On this screen, you can change the text tone, theme, or contact information as desired.
  2. For this example, select the text tone setting. The text tone is the sound that plays when a new text message arrives. Choosing the text tone setting takes you to a list of tones you can select. Textfree includes two free tones and gives you the option to download additional tones. You can preview each tone before you make your selection.
  3. Select the themes setting on the settings screen to change the stylistic look of the main message screen (see Figure 6). Textfree comes with two free themes that you can preview and select, with the option of downloading additional themes.
  4. Select the signature setting on the settings screen if you want to change the default signature that goes out with each of your text messages.

Figure 6 Change the theme to give Textfree a different look.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020