jschrag

Q: Can I use a Cambodian phone number with iMessage?

I am living in Cambodia for the next two months and put a Cambodian sim card in my iPhone 4. I have had trouble setting up iMessage with my new phone number. When I try and verify the number, it says that it cannot be verified. I tried adding the new number to my Apple ID account and there isn't enough spaces allowed for it. Does anybody have any experience with setting up iMessage with a Cambodian or other similar numbers?

 

Thanks.

iPhone 4, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Feb 12, 2014 11:32 PM

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Q: Can I use a Cambodian phone number with iMessage?

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  • by azamino,

    azamino azamino Jun 14, 2014 6:54 PM in response to jschrag
    Level 4 (1,626 points)
    Apple Music
    Jun 14, 2014 6:54 PM in response to jschrag

    hi

     

    i have the same problem but:

     

    even though the iMessage activation phrase never changes from "Waiting for activation..." and although the next screen showing the numbers/email addresses associated with iMessage does not show the Cambodia mobile number actually the people who have iPhone/iMessage that I iMessage with (of course) are getting and sending to me messages that their iMessage app is sending actually to the apple ID so no problem with iPhone/IMessages, and, (maybe) more importantly the people who are SMSing me not from an iPhone/iMessage are still able to send me SMS:  therefore it is working they are getting my SMS and I am getting their SMS.

     

    i have a SIM from Smart. I dont know which carrier you use.

     

    i have tried to change the APN settings in Celluar Data changing APN to various settings but still no actual "Activation" message. but it doesnt seem to matter...

  • by Thuch-Mac,

    Thuch-Mac Thuch-Mac Oct 22, 2014 11:08 PM in response to azamino
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 22, 2014 11:08 PM in response to azamino

    Hi

     

    jschrag is having problem activating his Cambodian number in the iMessage. I'm having this problem too after upgrading – that's a big regret I've made – to iOS 7. Prior to iOS 7 I have had no issue activating iMessage via my local Cambodian number – regardless of activation times I have had and this cases us the SMS-to-oversea charge per activation. I has no issue when activating iMessage outside of Cambodia (e.g. Singapore, New Zealand) during travelling and using the local number.

     

    The issue regarding to this iMessage – activation via Apple ID works fine as you mentioned – is the local Cambodian number. Starting a new conversation causes no problem with a new recipient but messaging with the one we've had before is really an issue – our Apple ID-activated iMessage created a new Message Conversation after sending/replying a new conversation that never integrates with our historical previous messages we had – not an issue to us who is the sender – to the Recipient. Later if there is change in our iMessage activation (having a new number) it will re-activate the iMessage and register the new number. Unless you're sufficiently smart to realise a new iMessage activation number has been registered the Recipients you've been messaging so far will always have a new Message Conversation every time there is change to the iMessage Activation.

     

    I strongly hope Apple will look into this case and furnish us back with a better solution.

     

    Thanks.

  • by azamino,

    azamino azamino Oct 23, 2014 6:04 AM in response to Thuch-Mac
    Level 4 (1,626 points)
    Apple Music
    Oct 23, 2014 6:04 AM in response to Thuch-Mac

    hi

     

    the last time i visited Cambodia and used my Smart SIM the problems have now been solved using iOS8.1

    i am referring to the issue of iMessage showing no activation - but in actuality still working as normal iMessages do.

    this problem has been solved due to iOS 8 not even having any place to manually enter APN for most SE Asian SIM cards.

    meaning: the APN setting is now done automatically between the iPhone and the network.

    it worked this way in both Cambodia and in Vietnam (absolutely no place to even manually enter APN. it just "worked" which is great.

     

    but the issue you refer to is totally separate. its a different issue.

    in your iMessage setting in iOS 7 or 8 there is a place where you enter the way you want messages to be identified as originating from you.

    you can use either your mobile number (and in that case the recipients will receive messages from your mobile number, or, you can have your recipients identify your messages as coming from a verified email address or iCloud address.

    so if you have two SIM cards, one from country A and one from country B the recipients of your messages will receive messages from you in two separate stacks of messages if you are identifying yourself with your mobile number.

     

    If however you have chosen to identify your messages as coming from your verified email or iCloud address then no matter what country and no matter what SIM you have (no matter if different mobile number) your contacts will always receive your messages as coming from that address and therefore would be consolidated in their Message window.

     

    this last one is what i have done since I frequently am changing 4 different SIMs, and it was getting confusing for my contacts. now they receive all my messages no matter where i am, all in one consolidated thread.

     

    hth.

  • by singhtararaksmey,

    singhtararaksmey singhtararaksmey Sep 9, 2015 7:56 PM in response to jschrag
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2015 7:56 PM in response to jschrag

    currently only smart mobile support imessage in cambodia,

    Wireless carrier support and features for iPhone in Asia-Pacific - Apple Support