Sending contacts via SMS to Android phones

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Level 1

12 points

Sending contacts via SMS to Android phones

I recently bought an iPhone and now struggling with a basic feature of sending contacts through SMS to Android phones. I am new to iOS environment so took me a while to settle down to iOS system. I have two major queries as follow:-

Why iMessages does not allow direct sharing of contact. I mean everytime when I am having conversations with someone and there is requirement of sending a contact I have to first move out of iMessage then go to contacts and then share the contact. This is pretty cumbersome given the fact that most people in my business are not allowed to use smartphones during working hours.
This problem becomes more acute when I have to share the contact details with some one having Android. Now to my horror I realized that Apple does not allow sharing of contacts card with Android. Which pretty much means that I have to travel back in history, copy the contact number followed by other contact details and then send as a normal message.
I mean have why is Apple forcing this on us. I am pretty disappointed or there is something I am missing here.

iPhone 11, iOS 13

Posted on Jun 12, 2020 7:00 PM

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Answer 1

LACAllen

Level 8

43,602 points

Jun 17, 2020 6:47 AM in response to shamsher241

Now to my horror I realized that Apple does not allow sharing of contacts card with Android. .

A contact card is a formatted/rich object and SMS can't carry it. Flat text only.

Your expectations are wrong.

why is Apple forcing this on us

SMS limitations are not from Apple.

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Answer 2

Jun 13, 2020 8:22 PM in response to shamsher241

You can let Apple know your thoughts on this horror here:

Product Feedback - Apple

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Answer 3

Jun 17, 2020 8:31 AM in response to shamsher241

I have no problems sharing contacts if I start from the Contacts app.

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Answer 4

shamsher241 Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 18, 2020 2:03 AM in response to LACAllen

Hi Allen, thanks for your reply. Yes I agree that a contact card is a different format object. But there should be flexibility in the imessage app itself to allow contacts to be sent via contact card or as a simple text, a feature which almost all flagship phones in the world offer and which is a basic one. So with all due respect, I would beg to differ here that my expectations are wrong. Its just that I hope to see such a basic feature in such a high end phone.

iMessage can just add a feature which allows users to send contacts either via contact card or as a simple text. Not all the users in the world will use an iPhone. We need to have cross platform usage.

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Answer 5

LACAllen

Level 8

43,602 points

Jun 18, 2020 4:28 AM in response to shamsher241

Message can just add a feature which allows users to send contacts either via contact card or as a simple text. Not all the users in the world will use an iPhone. We need to have cross platform usage.

tell Apple what you want and how simple it is.

Feedback for Apple goes here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

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Answer 6

shamsher241 Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 18, 2020 6:29 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Hi, Idris as per your advice I have requested few of my friends who are iPhone users to submit a feedback. So lets see what happens. However as you have mentioned that Apple may have made such changes based on the feedback in the past, I am not hopeful for any immediate change. But being an Engineer myself and having being exposed to high level programming, I am pretty much aware of the difficulties a simple change can bring to the entire code. But, then there are experts sitting in Apple.inc for whom this may not be a big problem to solve. After all this company is making trillions by selling such over-priced phones.

Secondly, can you tell why there is no notification for WhatsApp call on Apple Watch (you can call me nitpicker but these are real time problems I am facing. With Internet being dirt-cheap in my country, almost 70-80% of calls I receive are on WhatsApp. If I do not my iPhone on me, then I miss those calls because Apple Watch does not tell me I am getting a WhatsApp call).

PS : I have send a feedback to Apple on this too.

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Answer 7

shamsher241 Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 18, 2020 6:39 PM in response to LACAllen

Hi Allen, as a genuine user I can only give a genuine feedback. Now, how simple or difficult it may be, is for the experts in the company to decide for. But one thing is certain that if these kind of basic features can be provided by other flagship phones then I see no reason in this world, Apple (with such high quality of workforce) not being able to implement them. I cannot just fathom the reason why it is not there. I am an Electrical Engg myself and deal with users feedback on daily routine. Some are tough to implement, but yes if they are genuine then we surely go for it.

Secondly, can you tell why there is no notification for WhatsApp call on Apple Watch (you can call me nitpicker but these are real time problems I am facing. With Internet being dirt-cheap in my country, almost 70-80% of calls I receive are on WhatsApp. If I do not my iPhone on me, then I miss those calls because Apple Watch does not tell me I am getting a WhatsApp call). I am sure this also may have been very difficult for Apple people to implement.

PS : I have send a feedback to Apple on this too.

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Answer 8

shamsher241 Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 17, 2020 6:17 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Thanks Idris. I have posted the query on the platform. Do you have any alternate solution in the interim.

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Answer 9

shamsher241 Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 18, 2020 2:04 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Now I too am getting used to it. :)

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Answer 10

Jun 18, 2020 7:53 AM in response to shamsher241

shamsher241 wrote:

So with all due respect, I would beg to differ here that my expectations are wrong. Its just that I hope to see such a basic feature in such a high end phone.

iMessage can just add a feature which allows users to send contacts either via contact card or as a simple text. Not all the users in the world will use an iPhone.

People who insist that whatever feature it is they want would be "easy" or "simple" to add have probably never done much high level programing. Pretty much every line of code you add or subtract to something as complex as iOS affects a number of other things. While I'm sure it's quite possible, it may not be nearly as simple as you think. So, submit feedback and get all your friends to do the same because it's unlikely that Apple will spend the development details on something that it doesn't feel necessary and that it hasn't gotten very many requests for. Apple has made changes because of concerted feedback campaigns in the past.

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Sending contacts via SMS to Android phones

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