long text messages "failing"

[ajr0203]

So this has been bothering me for quite some time when it dawned on me to ask my favorite people. Okay, when someone sends me, or when I send someone, a long text message(something more than 160  characters) it tends to break it up into multiple text messages. Now, this would be fine if I was sending or receiving them from someone not on the Sprint network. However, this happens when I send or receive them from people on the Sprint network as well, and sometimes they don't even all come or go through. I have to have people resend them in the hopes that I  get the rest of the message. When I had Verizon, if you were texting someone else on the Verizon network, it would send it as one long message. Is there a way to set this in some sort of setting to do this on the Sprint network? It's just very frustrating, especially when it comes to messages that are important, like the ones related to my job. (Why we refuse  to use phone calls, I'm still not 100% sure.) There is a setting within my galaxy s4 to "re-assemble multi-segment messages so they can be shown as a single message." But...this doesn't work and then it just makes it harder to decipher because they're not labeled like (1/4), (1/3), etc, etc. Does anyone know if this can be rectified, or is this just something with how the Sprint network likes to work? Any insight would be helpful

[Dkoellerwx]

I know all my messages over 160 characters are broken up into multiple texts, regardless of who I'm sending them to. My messaging app does that for me. I've never had an issues with texts not going through or not coming in.

 

Are you having more issues sending, or receiving? I don't use the stock messenger, rather I use Handcent, which has an option to automatically break messages over 160. It also has the option to reassemble messages, but I've only ever seen that work when my dad sends me messages (he's on a GS3). I have no idea why that is.

[ajr0203]

I have about the same amount of difficulty between sending and receiving. I do use the stock messenger app.

[Dkoellerwx]

I have about the same amount of difficulty between sending and receiving. I do use the stock messenger app.

I guess my first step would be to use an different messaging app that has the option to automatically break messages, set it as the default messaging app, and see what happens.

 

Also, what phone did you have on Verizon? I know iPhones like to send the full message text as one regardless of who they're sending too... I've had issues with that getting messages from my AT&T friends. It just comes through in the wrong order sometimes when their iPhone is acting funny.

[WiWavelength]

A single SMS is limited to 160 characters. That is the long defined standard -- no way around it.

 

AJ

[ajr0203]

When I had Verizon, I had a droid RAZR, and a droid X. Both of which did the whole messages. I'll try a different messaging app. Would you recommend Handcent?

[ajr0203]

A single SMS is limited to 160 characters. That is the long defined standard -- no way around it.

 

AJ

Yea, I knew that, maybe what used to happen when I had Verizon is that it'd turn it into an mms automatically? Maybe I should just try that when I need longer messages?

[PythonFanPA]

When I had Verizon, I had a droid RAZR, and a droid X. Both of which did the whole messages. I'll try a different messaging app. Would you recommend Handcent?

 

I would....I used to use only stock messaging, but once I actually tried Handcent I've never looked back.  Granted I've never tried/looked at any of the other non-stock texting apps that may be out there either, but Handcent's about the most popular one out there.

[ajr0203]

I'll just have to give that a shot then. Thanks guys for the quick help

[Dkoellerwx]

I'll just have to give that a shot then. Thanks guys for the quick help

Same as Python, once I used Handcent, never looked back. And that was on the OG EVO 4G! Haha. Used it through my EVO 3D, EVO LTE, SG3, and now HTC ONE!

[ajr0203]

I downloaded handcent...I'm sort of kind of already in love with it over my stock one lol. Thanks again guys

[WiWavelength]

Honestly, I do not get the disdain for stock messaging apps.  It is just SMS/MMS -- there is not a whole lot to it.  The HTC app, for example, is perfectly fine.  Plus, I would worry about a third party app possibly disrupting the tight Google Voice integration.

 

AJ

[PythonFanPA]

I think most prefer all the customization Handcent offers, though if you don't text much I could see where its not a big deal.  As for Google Voice, I haven't (yet) had any issue with using Handcent and receiving texts via my GV number.  I don't integrate via Sprint though, so I can't speak to that angle of usage.

[Dkoellerwx]

I think most prefer all the customization Handcent offers, though if you don't text much I could see where its not a big deal.  As for Google Voice, I haven't (yet) had any issue with using Handcent and receiving texts via my GV number.  I don't integrate via Sprint though, so I can't speak to that angle of usage.

The messaging apps are fine, I don't have anything against them.

 

I really like the customizations that Handcent offers as well.

 

I do use Google Voice integration, and haven't ever had an issue with it at all. There is a slight delay between the Google Voice delivery online and getting the text on my phone, but it's not an issue.

[greenvillesc]

I guess my first step would be to use an different messaging app that has the option to automatically break messages, set it as the default messaging app, and see what happens.Also, what phone did you have on Verizon? I know iPhones like to send the full message text as one regardless of who they're sending too... I've had issues with that getting messages from my AT&T friends. It just comes through in the wrong order sometimes when their iPhone is acting funny.

I have the problem of , all long mesg. Coming in in random order too. This happens on my HTC LTE and my wifes gs3 too., we both noticed this starting about 2 months ago. I also often don't get all long text mesg parts until hour later. Sprint blamed it on NV.

[COZisBack]

I personally prefer GoSMS, that was until they screwed up GroupSMS somehow. Handcent has this working perfectly now, but I've been getting Spam Porn Messages from other Handcent users. Once I went back to GoSMS it obviously stopped. I may try Handcent again.

[TheForce627]

It didn't help that Sprint's texting acts up a lot. I used to only text using a vzw prl just to get stuff on time.

[koiulpoi]

I actually recommend against using a non-stock SMS app if you use Sprint's voicemail. If the app intercepts the voicemail texts before the Voicemail app gets them, you'll get a bunch of garbled text messages, and no voicemail notifications. I've seen it too many times. If you're using Google Voice though, go ahead!

[avb]

The problem with stock messenging apps is lack of group text message (at least until Android 4.2 I believe).  iPhone and Windows Phone has group messenging built in, and on Android I had to use Handcent or GoSms for that functionality.

[mrknowitall526]

I've seen this problem for a while, I think it has to do with the phone.  Some phones (seems like dumbphones) put in the (1/2) etc., but every smartphone I've ever used hasn't.  When I get a long text from someone with Verizon, I usually get the ending part first, but they come right away.  My sister's Sprint GS2 puts the text numbers, but my EVO LTE does not.  When the GS2 does it, I receive them on my EVO LTE as one text.