AT&T texting alternative for wife

[BobM99]

Hi, follow up from the recent UD message that AT&T is ending email-to-text alerts soon.

Right now I use this to send eisy alerts my wife. What is a good alternative, preferably that doesn't involve her installing UD Mobile? She has an iPhone. Also, I'm not the most gifted eisy user. 

Thanks.

Bob

[paulbates]

To keep it simple, would you consider email > email?  My guess is that most mobile providers are headed down the path of no more email > text

One way would be to set up a separate email account just for this purpose and make sure it can send priority notifications on the phone.

That way, the eisy notifications won't get lost in her regular emails, and as a new account just for this purpose shouldn't see spam. The ios email client allows for an manages multiple mailboxes within the app. 

[larryllix]

SMS text messaging is not available to many people traveling.  People do not want to pay exorbitant rates to get phone service for a week or two

Usually most resorts (in Mexico)  provide WiFi data, so emails are one of the only methods to receive notifications.

[elvisimprsntr]

Thanks ATT.  This is how I send notifications on certain events (alarm, doorbell, left garage door open at night, etc.) effectively acting like push notifications.  

[Geddy]

@BobM99 I would second the option that @paulbates mentions. I might add to possibly get a 3rd party email client (like Spark - that's just a random one and one that I (and others) use). You can then allow or block alerts and even set up different sounds so you know it's not just a "regular" email.

Another option for iOS would be to make an email alias and add a contact to her phone for that alias with a different alert for emails. You could also allow it to by-pass focus settings (if desired). This would allow it to arrive as a unique alert and possibly get her attention rather than just a regular email. 

My 3rd suggestion would be an app like Pushover if you don't want UD Mobile installed on her phone. You could then setup the notification plugin to send Pushover alerts and again it would send an alert to her phone and you can use different sounds and notification methods as needed. It's a little more involved, but there is a lot of information in the Notification forum area for help setting up. 

 

@elvisimprsntr, nobody should be surprised by this announcement by AT&T. I think over the last 4-5 years email-to-text has been filtered/blocked by all the major cell providers. Many users have complained on the forums of not getting alerts (sadly, it's typically been around the temperature change that time sensitive alerts are missed!). I'm glad UD is being proactive and getting the word out now so that people have time to possibly run alternatives in parallel to be sure they have things setup for when AT&T does shut their system down. I just hope enough people get the message and act on it to get things sorted out now. Otherwise, come June the forums will be flooded with "help me" posts. Then we'll see it again come fall/winter when the temperature changes and people don't get their "usual" alert about cold temps or other potentially hazardous situations. There have been alternatives for how to send/receive alerts. AT&T is now forcing the need to change to other methods. 

 

[fisix]

quick related question.

does our current texting algo use sms specifically, or possibly mms?

there's a push in telecom to end sms and move to mms.  so, when ATT says they're ending email to text, are they ending the service only for sms?

anyway, wondering if any of the below might work going forward:
Common Carrier Gateway Domains:
AT&T:
SMS: number@txt.att.net
MMS: number@mms.att.net
Verizon:
SMS & MMS: number@vtext.com
T-Mobile:
SMS & MMS: number@tmomail.net
Sprint:
SMS & MMS: number@messaging.sprintpcs.com
Boost Mobile:
SMS: number@sms.myboostmobile.com
MMS: number@myboostmobile.com
Cricket Wireless:
SMS: number@sms.cricketwireless.net
MMS: number@mms.cricketwireless.net
Virgin Mobile:
SMS & MMS: number@vmobl.com

ah, both sms and mms:

https://www.att.com/support/article/wireless/KM1061254/

 

[Geddy]

2 minutes ago, fisix said:

when ATT says they're ending email to text, are they ending the service only for sms?

Appears to be any "email-to-text" path. Reading the AT&T announcement (that's linked in the UD news/blog post) has a FAQ below it and the first item would answer your question:

Quote

What is email to text?
Email to text is when you send an email that appears on the AT&T subscriber’s device as an SMS or MMS. You do this by entering the recipient's 10-digit wireless number, followed by @txt.att.net or @mms.att.net. For example, 5551234567@txt.att.net or 5551234567@mms.att.net. This also applies to any SMS or MMS message you receive as an email to text on your AT&T device.

 

[fisix]

it looks like you might be able to link an email address to iMessage (if you're an iPhone user), so if you notify via that email address, it'll push/show up as a text on your iPhone.

i don't see a great single link for instructions, but if you search on link email to iMessage, you'll see some instructions and videos and such.

 

[Geddy]

6 minutes ago, fisix said:

it looks like you might be able to link an email address to iMessage

That's only for sending messages within iMessage on Apple devices. You can't "text" somebody from an email address to an email address (that's just emailing somebody).  There are well defined and documented ways to send alerts or simple email alerts through various methods. Pick one that works best for you.

[BobM99]

Many great answers here. Thanks to all!  Bob

[sdynak]

2nd Pushover.. ever since e-mail to text got spotty some years back with T-Mobile I finally took the plunge about a year ago. Rock solid and the customizations are great with the critical alert in those needed situations. More reliable than a text or e-mail trust me. It never fails. 

[elvisimprsntr]

Apparently, Notifyre touts its self as an alternative.  I tried to register, but apparently you need an employer EIN.  I think it is geared more towards enterprise.  

Pushover seems to be the best and most cost effective alternative.  30-day free trial and $4.99 one time license per platform. Already updated my ISY and Elk to use Pushover.

 

 

Edited Saturday at 10:27 AM by elvisimprsntr