iMessage too slow sending text when it can't connect to iMessage

The issue still exists for me as well. I just keep the network turned off while I'm on wifi and there are no issues, but if the network is on (regardless of whether I am connected to wifi) this problem exists.

Also, 5.0.1 didn't fix the keyboard split issue with the ipad 2 in iMessage where the split keyboard covers the conversation, even when docked to the bottom.

I was pretty disappointed these two issues weren't resolved

I have been having the same problems all of you have been having, and my husband suggested going to the apple store, but the apple tech assured me it was the network, and if i just reset my network settings, my iMessage would work again. Well, that worked for about 1 message. He saw it send and deliver properly, but the second i walked out of the apple store to send another iMessage, it sent as an SMS. i agree, it is very frustrating waiting for your iphone to send the iMessage, and 5-10 minutes later it shows up as a text message. The apple tech also told me that they are coming out with another software update in the next few weeks to solve this problem, because the iOS 5.1 did absolutely nothing to it, and it probably made it worse. i just hope they fix this problem before i throw my phone out of the window.

Same problem here, sometimes an iMessage takes 15 to 20 minutes to be delivered and when you don't realise, the other party gets the message at the wrong time, causes confusion all round. How can I switch off this Apple crap and just send normal texts? Anyone know? I don't need to reset my 3GS as it locks up virtually very day since the IOS5 upgrade! As a software development manager, I'm sick of this flaky Apple software, even Microshaft works better than this!!

Mine works fine but turming it off is simple: Settings - Messages - iMessage = OFF

I'm no raving Apple fan but IMHO, they probably shouldn't have allowed 3G phone users to upgrade - Actually MS isn't better but they get around it by not allowiung upgrades on inadequate hardware. i.e. you're not going to have much luck running Windows 7 on most 3 or 4 year old PC's.

i have to same problem, my imessage takes about 5 mins and other times it works great, but i just turned it off. as far as apple stores go, i have been to them with other issues and i have come to the understanding that they just don't care, so i went to the online techs and even the phone and they don't care either. so i am just going to say it, Apple does NOT care about fixing our problems and it *****.....

Have noticed this issue come up about a few days after the 4S came out. My situation is on and off. Sometimes it's quick, sometimes its slow. Quick, as in instant, I can see the other person replying a few seconds after my message/text was sent. Other times, the "sending" status bar would just hang at almost completion for about 30-40 seconds before sending. Some of those times, it fails to send (I get the "not delivered" message). And there are the odd times when sending hangs, but while it's still trying to send, I get a reply from the person I was sending the message to. I'm pretty sure it's all on Apple's side, their servers are bogged down. More than likely, SIRI and iMessage run through the same servers, along with your basic voice command for dialing phone numbers. It's no wonder there are times when things are very slow using voice command of any type and iMessaging. Voice dialing used to be almost instantaneous before iOS 5. It was obviously done right on the iPhone itself. Now that iOS 5 and SIRI are here, all of it is relayed over to Apple's servers. Not very well thought out by Apple. Hopefully they don't sit on this issue like they did iOS 4.0.

I am having the same issue its stupid. Some text conversations are taking up to 15 minutes apart. For example if you going to pick someone up and you tell them you are outside their house you waiting flippin 15 minutes before you realise they just only got the message. They need to sort it out or will have to go back to whats app.

My partner was away and sent me an iMessage at 5.40PM.

I received it nearly 11 hours later when it woke me up at 04.14 in the middle of the night. Thinking something was wrong I messaged back and so woke my partner up. Confusion and worry reigned.

Thanks, iMessage. NFFP.

I am a mac user using 3 products, namely iPhone 4S, the new iPad and also a MBP 17". I send a imessage out from my MBP and it took 5 mins before it appears on my iPad. But it didn't appear on my iPhone. Both 3 systems are on WiFi when it happens. I waited for a min and still it does not appear in the iPhone. But once I pick up my iPhone and start sending out the message to someone, the message then decide to come in.

There is some synchronization issues that Apple seriously has to look into it.

I followed someones advice on here to turn on the data network and imessage works just fine when i am on my wifi.

Same issue here. I can switch to regular text message and it will go right through. Sounds to me like a problem with how they sync with the Apple servers and nothing to do with the network itself at all. It's VERY frustrating though and I wish you could just turn off iMessages.

Well of course you can turn off iMessage on your iPhone. Just go to Settings > Messages and toggle iMessage on or off.

Did anyone find a fix to this because the same thing is happening to me on my iPhone 5 on iOS 6. I send an iMesage to someone and it either takes a few minutes to deliver or it sends it as an SMS. I tried turning off the "send as SMS" feature hoping that would work but no luck.

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