OS X Yosemite isn’t a new-fangled name for Yosemite National Park, but rather the newest version of Mac’s operating system. Besides featuring a new look, the system offers a plethora of special features, including iCloud Drive file storage, streamlined design for Safari, an expanded notification system with widgets, mail and message enhancements, and more. Immediately available to all Mac users for no cost as of October 16, 2014, Apple is improving continuity between devices with this new system (although not, as a number of defectors have discovered, between Apple and Android devices...)
The new set of continuity features connect iOS devices to the Mac several ways, including allowing users to make and answer calls with Macs and iPads when such devices are forwarded through their iPhones. Macs and iPads are now able to receive SMS messages, including those sent from non-iOS devices. Before OS X Yosemite and iOS 8.1 launched, iPads and Macs could only receive iMessages, which are part of the company’s proprietary messaging system designed for the iPad, iPhone and Mac.
SMS messages, usually intended for mobile phone communications only, are getting their turn thanks to OS X Yosemite, as users can send texts to any device via Macs and iPads. Now known as “Text Message Forwarding” in the Settings app, it was originally called “SMS Relay” before the launch of iOS 8.1. Being able to answer SMS messages and calls on a Mac is highly convenient, especially when a phone is charging or otherwise unavailable.
iOS 8.1 and OS X Yosemite is required to forward messages and phone calls from an iPhone to a Mac or iPad. The Mac and iPhone also must be logged into the same iCloud account, and the WiFi feature needs to be off to allow for call forwarding.
Separate steps are (obviously) required to enable text message and phone call forwarding. For text message forwarding, users must turn on their Mac and iPhone’s WiFi. Note that SMS forwarding works even if each device is logged into a different WiFi system. The next step is to open the Messages app on the Mac and scroll to Menu Bar -> Messages -> Preferences -> Accounts -> Click on iMessage account -> and then check the boxes next to phone and email. If the email is not already listed, the user needs to click Add Email and enter an address.
The email address is subsequently added to iMessage on the iPhone via Settings -> Messages -> Send & Receive. Note a registered email is necessary for enabling text message forwarding. To turn on Text Message Forwarding on the iPhone, the user needs to go to Settings -> Messages -> Text Message Forwarding -> Turn Text Message Forwarding On. This results in a prompt requesting an activation code, which will appear in the Mac’s Messages app. The code is entered into the iPhone, and is required for every device the user wants included in the messaging service.
Any incoming message can now be answered on the Mac, and iPhone will automatically appear as a push notification on the Mac in the upper-right corner. Click ‘reply’ to answer a text, with messages also appearing in the Mac’s Messages app.
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