Help! How to text on Android phone?

[frannn]

Just upgraded last week to Sprint's Optimus S phone. Trying to text, but once I hit send, all it does is say "Sending...." and never gets sent. When I first got it, I mistakenly sent a ton of old messages (transferred from my old phone) out to everyone, so I know it worked at least once. Some of those still say sending... I downloaded the update to Swype(keyboard), and one app. None of these things should be affecting texts. I even tried removing and replacing the battery. Sprint says they have been having network problems, which could be doing it, but this has been going on for days. I am receiving texts and able to get on the internet. Any setting I should check or something?

 

[LUV DA MOUSE]

Just upgraded last week to Sprint's Optimus S phone. Trying to text, but once I hit send, all it does is say "Sending...." and never gets sent. When I first got it, I mistakenly sent a ton of old messages (transferred from my old phone) out to everyone, so I know it worked at least once. Some of those still say sending... I downloaded the update to Swype(keyboard), and one app. None of these things should be affecting texts. I even tried removing and replacing the battery. Sprint says they have been having network problems, which could be doing it, but this has been going on for days. I am receiving texts and able to get on the internet. Any setting I should check or something?

I recommend going into a store, the employees can take a look at your phone to make sure its set up correctly and show you how to use the features. I did when I got my phone and it made a world of difference. Good Luck!

 

[JediMaster]

If you text alot and don't want to pay for text service or don't have text service. go to "Meebo.com" and see if they have the app for your phone. It does "IM" style texting through web and since you are already paying for web , why pay for more texting. Good luck!

 

[ssawka]

If you text alot and don't want to pay for text service or don't have text service. go to "Meebo.com" and see if they have the app for your phone. It does "IM" style texting through web and since you are already paying for web , why pay for more texting. Good luck!

You can also text for free using Google Voice. It works the exact same ways as regular texting in that you can text directly to the phone #.

OP, are you in an area with spotty coverage? Although text is usually more reliable than voice, often you will get the "sending..." message when a good connection cannot be established.

 

[Best Aunt]

I have a different Android phone, and had a different problem, but it might apply to you --

my phone completely froze up. Wouldn't turn on, wouldn't turn off.

I took it to back to the store, and they said I was having a problem because I wasn't killing my apps often enough. There's an app called the App Killer. You have to kill your apps numerous times a day, or else it's like having a computer with too many applications running.

Does your phone have an App Killer? If yes, are you using it religiously?

 

[semo233]

Check the settings on your phone to make sure that the messaging function is turned on. Sometimes I find the solution to my problem in settings...

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

I would try reprogramming the phone. I know on Verizon it's *228 so I imagine Sprint had something similar.

If that doesn't help, take it by the store. If you are receiving text and accessing the Internet, you should be sending.

 

[jedijohn]

I took it to back to the store, and they said I was having a problem because I wasn't killing my apps often enough. There's an app called the App Killer. You have to kill your apps numerous times a day, or else it's like having a computer with too many applications running.

Who ever told you this flat out lied to you. Operating systems, such and Android, are designed to manage memory/cpu usage for you. Killing app's is not something you have to do. Apps that lock up your phone are poorly coded and should be uninstalled.

 

[jedijohn]

If you text alot and don't want to pay for text service or don't have text service. go to "Meebo.com" and see if they have the app for your phone. It does "IM" style texting through web and since you are already paying for web , why pay for more texting. Good luck!

Most likely if she has a smartphone with Sprint, she has an unlimited mobile/text/data plan.

 

[jedijohn]

Just upgraded last week to Sprint's Optimus S phone. Trying to text, but once I hit send, all it does is say "Sending...." and never gets sent. When I first got it, I mistakenly sent a ton of old messages (transferred from my old phone) out to everyone, so I know it worked at least once. Some of those still say sending... I downloaded the update to Swype(keyboard), and one app. None of these things should be affecting texts. I even tried removing and replacing the battery. Sprint says they have been having network problems, which could be doing it, but this has been going on for days. I am receiving texts and able to get on the internet. Any setting I should check or something?

Sounds like the messaging widget is locked up from the mass text's you sent our to your entire contact list. See if you can delete all the ones that are in "sending" status; if you can't do that you might need to go into the Sprint store so they can wipe your phone.

 

[crazelion]

You can also text for free using Google Voice. It works the exact same ways as regular texting in that you can text directly to the phone #.

OP, are you in an area with spotty coverage? Although text is usually more reliable than voice, often you will get the "sending..." message when a good connection cannot be established.

Can post step by step on sent a text message with Google voice and how recieve it. What section will the text message will show in google email. No I have never text before. I only the internet on my phone.

 

[Lisa_M]

I have a sprint phone (Samsung Transform) and this is how I text. I press the little green smiley face guy that says "Messaging" It brings up a screen and I touch "new message" Then I touch "to" and type who I am messaging. and autocompletes for me. Thenn touch "Type to compose" and do your message and then touch "send." That's it.


ETA: I just re-read your OP and see that you know how to do it, but it is just not sending. I think for this one you need to go back to the sprint store or call tech support. Sorry I can't help.

 

[ssawka]

Can post step by step on sent a text message with Google voice and how recieve it. What section will the text message will show in google email. No I have never text before. I only the internet on my phone.

Google voice is not really tied to GMail, it is a seperate site http://www.google.com/voice. You need to create an account and select a phone number. Once you do that, you can either choose to forward calls/texts to your phone or not. I choose not to. Then you can download the Google Voice app and run through the setup. Once you do that, it will integrate with your phone and you can use the app to both send and recieve texts. It will also notify you when you receive a text, just like a normal text. The only catch is that the text that you send will look like they came from the Google Voice number, and not your cell number. Also, in order not to be charged for incoming texts, the person texting you would need to send it to the Google Voice number.

Google Voice also has other cool features, such as transcribing voice messages received on your Google Voice number into text and emailing it to you. This is still a WIP and the messages do not always make sense.

 

[frannn]

Sounds like the messaging widget is locked up from the mass text's you sent our to your entire contact list. See if you can delete all the ones that are in "sending" status; if you can't do that you might need to go into the Sprint store so they can wipe your phone.

Sprint went through a whole bunch of resets, which didn't work. I deleted about half the old texts, which didn't work. Exchanged the phone for a brand new one at Best Buy, and ended up with the same problem after my first text. Finally just deleted most of the remaining old texts, and wala! Finally able to text out and keep whats left of my sanity. Thanks to everyone!

 

[Best Aunt]

Who ever told you this flat out lied to you. Operating systems, such and Android, are designed to manage memory/cpu usage for you. Killing app's is not something you have to do. Apps that lock up your phone are poorly coded and should be uninstalled.

Interesting... and a little scary.

I have not downloaded any apps. The only apps on there are the ones that came with the phone.

The Verizon store salesperson said that killing apps is so important, she moved the App Killer to my home page. After my phone froze up, the Verizon store tech support person told me that I should be killing my apps often.

 

[jedijohn]

Interesting... and a little scary.

I have not downloaded any apps. The only apps on there are the ones that came with the phone.

The Verizon store salesperson said that killing apps is so important, she moved the App Killer to my home page. After my phone froze up, the Verizon store tech support person told me that I should be killing my apps often.

Usually first level "tech support" is an entry level job for an IT person. Good support people are few and far between. It would be like trusting a first year med student to do brain surgery; they may know something about it, but not enough to be any where near an expert.

 

[crazelion]

Google voice is not really tied to GMail, it is a seperate site http://www.google.com/voice. You need to create an account and select a phone number. Once you do that, you can either choose to forward calls/texts to your phone or not. I choose not to. Then you can download the Google Voice app and run through the setup. Once you do that, it will integrate with your phone and you can use the app to both send and recieve texts. It will also notify you when you receive a text, just like a normal text. The only catch is that the text that you send will look like they came from the Google Voice number, and not your cell number. Also, in order not to be charged for incoming texts, the person texting you would need to send it to the Google Voice number.

Google Voice also has other cool features, such as transcribing voice messages received on your Google Voice number into text and emailing it to you. This is still a WIP and the messages do not always make sense.

Thank You that help out a lot. I got now and I can text for free now.