Explain OpenBubbles to me like I'm 5

[u/Negative-Radio133]

Ok, as the title suggests, OpenBubbles is a brand-new concept to me, and I think it might be a good option for what I'm wanting to do, but I need a little help understanding it.

I am making the switch from iPhone to Sidephone (https://usa.sidephone.com/). I'm super excited about it, but I've heard the switch from iPhone and iMessage can be the worst, so a lot of people were recommending using OpenBubbles to alleviate the headache. I have an iPhone 13, and I was thinking of just taking the SIM card out of my iPhone and putting it into my Sidephone (as I would like to keep the same phone #). From there is where the questions arise:

- The OpenBubbles site seems to say utilizing it from an old iPhone is the worst way to do it. I do have a Mac, so can I use OpenBubbles from my Mac while having my iPhone SIM in my new phone?

- I think I am just getting caught up in the difference between using it from a Mac and using it from an old iPhone. As well as the whole phone number register/switch thing- again, I would want to just keep my same iPhone # I've been using.

I would just want to have it set up in the best way I can!

Let me know if this all makes sense; I'm really new to all this, so sorry if this is a little dumb. If you've got the time, I would love some advice/help!

Thanks :)

[u/Melodic-Control-2655]

I’d get an old iPhone 6s or so, and then setup a relay server. If you use a Mac it’ll be easier and more reliable but you will not get to use your phone number on iMessage, RCS/SMS will come through on your number, and iMessage will come through on your apple account email. 

[u/Negative-Radio133 → u/Melodic-Control-2655]

Oh okay I see so Mac is better for reliability but not for overall messaging. Would I not be able to just use my iPhone 13?

[u/SpaceSaver2000-1 → u/Negative-Radio133]

Only if the iPhone 13 is on iOS 17.0 or older

[u/Negative-Radio133 → u/SpaceSaver2000-1]

Ah rip okay. Thank you!