Reasons for a text message that didn’t send?

Question

Well my girlfriend has a Samsung phone and I have an Iphone. We send multiple texts throughout the day and for some reason this one text didnt go through from the Samsung to the iphone. It shows how it was sent normally on the Samsung and not a trace of it on my Iphone. 
We were at both at home when this happened so wi fi was good? what could’ve caused it? I dont want it to happen when something more serious happens :0

Mmm J · Answer

How text messages are sent between iPhone (iOS, iMessage) and Android (SMS):

Samsung Android SMS addressed to iPhone iOS iMessage. Compose text message on Android, address to iPhone phone number. Press send. SMS goes from Android phone to her cell phone service provider. Normally, this goes over the cell provider's macro network (antenna/tower, base station, base station controller, Short Message Server in a data center or Mobile Switching Center). There, the SMS Center and MSC determine where to send the message - in this case, to Apple's iMessage server. Once there, the message is sent to the iPhone after your cell phone service provider - or Apple - find the iPhone. There are a few other steps, but I wanted to keep it simple. As you can see there are several places this call flow can break.

MMS - Multimedia Service - is similar, but there may be a different server at your carrier. That any messages get through is pretty impressive. There are occasional burps, especially if you two have different cell phone service providers.

For example, search "delayed text messages"... there are several times text messages were received days/weeks/months after they were originally sent...

SSP Bowl Dude · Answer

Text messages are not sent through wi-fi, they need a mobile voice connection.  If you are using a third party app it does use wifi or mobile data.

Reasons for a text message that didn’t send?

2 Answers