iPhone to Android iMessage bug fix

Hilarious. Funny how you frame that fact up as if it's what you've been saying all along. The reality is, you've been the loudest champion in this thread for Apple having done nothing wrong, and specifically said on numerous occasions that they already "fixed the issue" by removing our cell phone numbers from the iMessage system, and that there was nothing more that they could or should do.

In direct contrast to that, I (and others in my camp) pointed out a number of times that Apple should push an iOS fix to accurately detect if there is an iPhone on the other end before trying to send an iMessage. You've consistently ignored that, and/or suggested that there was no need for it because of the aforementioned "fix" (that clearly didn't work, as evidenced by this thread AND the fact that Apple will be fixing it with an iOS patch).

So, in other words, this confirms that there was more Apple could have (and should have) been doing all along, just like we said 18 pages ago. This issue reared its head in 2011, e.g. iOS 5.x. There is no acceptable reason it took them 2 full major version releases and 3 years to get this tiny little fix pushed through. As suspected, they probably sat on it until the squeaky wheels got loud enough.

ive posted numerous times what troubleshooting steps to take if the iphone using contacts do not receive the notification to stop sending u imessages. i have always aknowledged that this is a problem. i have also been posting numerous times where to go to let apple know about this issue directly so that if they got enough feedback about it they would do something (apple.com/feedback). yes, this issue has been around for a long time. yes, apple should have done something about it before now. and yes, im sorry that i ever tried to help anybody on this thread because apparently the only thing anybody wants to do is ***** to other people that they are having the same problem and not actually do anything about it. intelligence seems to be lacking in your department people *pointedly looks at djfiii*

djfiii wrote:

Hilarious. Funny how you frame that fact up as if it's what you've been saying all along. The reality is, you've been the loudest champion in this thread for Apple having done nothing wrong

proof or gtfo

Whatever fix was in the 7.1 patch didn't fix it for everyone. I have done everything people have suggested in this thread, and am still having problems. That includes three calls to AppleCare, the latest being this morning.

My entire family uses iphones. I have three Mac computers currently, and an iPad. My first Apple computer was an Apple IIe. My first iphone was the 3gs. I was the first in my family to use an iphone.

This week I switched to an android phone. I followed all suggestions in the thread before switching. Called AppleCare, and they revoked my certificate. I am still having problems with receiving texts from other iphones. I tested it this morning with two iphones that have been updated to 7.1. All my other Apple products have been deregistered, btw.

My wife sends a group to me and my son, putting me first. It sends as text. Son replies to all, it sends as iMessage. I never get it.

My son deletes my contact info. He then deletes all text conversations. Makes sure "send as SMS if iMessage can't be delivered" is turned on. He turns off iMessage, and then re-enables it. He reboots his iphone (5S, btw.) Now, with none of my contact information in the phone, he types in my phone number from the keypad to send me a message. It sends as iMessage. I never get it.

I call AppleCare for the 3rd time about this issue. The tech checks to make sure my phone certificate has been revoked. It has, and it has been well over 24 hours since that took place. I go through all the steps I have taken and how we have tried to troubleshoot the issue. She contacts level II support. Final answer: They are aware of the issue. There is a glitch in the system servers, and they are working on a fix. No ETA. There is nothing more to try, either on Apple's part or mine. According to the tech, this problem occurs with some users, and there is nothing they can do to fix it at this time.

My family is spread out and busy. I don't want to miss texts from them. I am not going to ask them to turn off iMessage. I see no way to resolve this other than getting a new phone number (ATT, btw.) As a long-time Apple product user, I am very frustrated. I would rather go through the hassle of changing my phone number, which I have had for a long time, then to deal with missing texts. After I change my number I will consider to what extent, if any, I want to remain an Apple product user.

First of all new phone number ( and I don't mean that you should not try ) may come from another iphone user.

Second, can you tell me if on your son's phone it says that message is delivered and the bubble is blue when he sends to you? Or it says undelivered?

Same issue at @larryhutch. This is serioudly rediculous. I've called 3 times. It's been 12 days since I turned off iMessage and 6 days since I had them remove all my info from their system. On the 3rd call (today) the guy told me it's a known issue and it could take a few weeks or months to work out. ***? I'm over apple, they will not get my money ever again -- this *****.

Oh, but he did tell me a known fix:

Call all your friends who have iPhones and tell them to switch your contact to send as SMS only.

^ I told him that was a funny joke and ended the call...

It's a workaround until Apple fixes it completely. The crux of this is the differences between the wireless carrier SMS/MMS systems. Apple has to make iMessage compatible with all the carriers, but not all the carriers work with Apple the way that they should.

No one says you have to use iMessage. It's optional. IMO, when an optional service has issues, I switch over to something else.

cwollak wrote:

Same issue at @larryhutch. This is serioudly rediculous. I've called 3 times. It's been 12 days since I turned off iMessage and 6 days since I had them remove all my info from their system. On the 3rd call (today) the guy told me it's a known issue and it could take a few weeks or months to work out. ***? I'm over apple, they will not get my money ever again -- this *****.

Oh, but he did tell me a known fix:

Call all your friends who have iPhones and tell them to switch your contact to send as SMS only.

^ I told him that was a funny joke and ended the call...

You do not have same issue as larry, cause his son actually turned "send as SMS" on and still having problems. The issue that you appears to have is you typing way to many asterisks. Hurts my eyes.

@TJBUSMC1973 - it's not optional if you can't turn it off...

@fromsouth - I did not explicitly type astrisks. It was words that got filtered. They were not event cuss words just words that would hurt apple's precious image. Probably the reason apply has no social media presence becasue they want the world to think they are awesome when they have some horrible issues (like this one).

Lastly, what made you think I don't have the same problem as larry?

@cwollak - It's optional to turn it on in the first place. And if you turn it off and wait up to 45 days, it'll be fine.

And the 'censored' words have nothing to do with whether or not it's 'offensive' to Apple. The system censors certain curse words or vulgar language.

Watch this:

Apple is the most horrible company ever in the history of mankind! They like to steal lollipops from babies and kick puppies! No one should ever buy an Apple product again, and we should all go to 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino CA and picket their headquarters!!

Hmm... nothing got censored there. Weird, right?

The bubble is blue when he sends it. It never changes or says delivered or undelivered. And I thought about that with my luck, I'll get a new number that had the same problem 🙂

larryhutch wrote:

The bubble is blue when he sends it. It never changes or says delivered or undelivered. And I thought about that with my luck, I'll get a new number that had the same problem 🙂

If it never turns green and does not say undelivered you must have still some Apple device where you signed in to imessage with your phone number. It may be you or anyone in your household. Check all devices yours and your family. Device where you find your phone number is a problem. I may be wrong and if I am sorry, just trying to help.

I never signed into iMessage from any of my other devices. They are all currently unregistered with Apple. Apple says its a known system glitch, that it happens to some people, and that there was nothing further I could do on my end. I think I will take their word for that; I have been messing with this for days and I'm tired of it. I have never received an iMessage anywhere other than my iPhone.

It seems that even after revoking the certificate for iMessage there still remains some trace of it in Apple's servers. Perhaps the code is embedded deeper into the OS than was intended. Who knows. No problem, I know you are trying to help. The Apple tech this morning seemed truly sorry to have to tell me that there was nothing more that could be done.

In the situation where I would have to take my or apple tech's word, I would bet on mine in 95 percent of cases, but you are by all means correct choosing his. That forum exists for those particular situations where people like us help with technical advice. That thread has become more of the rant - and I just was finally able to try to help someone like you and got a bit involved. Once again sorry.

I've been watching all of this unfold since I posted the other night. I had a few contacts that couldn't get to me and I contacted them personally (phone call, dear Lord how crazy). BUT, my phone is mainly clients (counseling) and so I only have to contact a few at a time. My fear? I don't get a text from a previous client that wants to come back in to see me. The whole thing makes you feel unsettled because you can "fix" the issue and then sometimes you don't get texts again from people who seemed to work for a while. The thing that I don't get is that anyone pro-Apple to the extent that you would be rude to a FELLOW HUMAN who is having a genuine problem that is resulting from a GENUINE APPLE SCREW UP is assanine. Apple started something different and made the world a better place right up until they got enough traction and followers to be a-holes....different than Microsoft A-holes but a-holes none the less. I would think Apple and anyone on these forums who give a crap about another person who inhabits this planet would at the very least just say "Hey, sorry you are frustrated, sounds terrible and sounds like they don't have a fix yet, sorry I can't help you anymore than this...." That would at least make us believe Apple cares and is actively working on this....but honestly the rude responses and attitude just make us feel.........screwed. Thanks to all the commenting Pro-Apple folks for driving home that feeling.

For anyone else who is looking to fix this, MOST of my issues got fixed when I called Applecare and had them remove my number. I'm checking into an app that will text all of my contacts (as if I had a new number) and tell them to text me if they have an IPhone and if they do not hear from me in 24 hours to set phone to SMS etc.......maybe this helps but again, this doesn't cover people who I used to see and certainly doesn't cover new clients who might contact me. This could cost me $$$ (and may have already). That is the reason I contacted the Federal Trade Commission (who probably won't do anything either). At the very least we who have switched products (and many of us still have MULTIPLE other devices from Apple) could be treated with a smidge of empathy?

Zelous - for the most part you have a great reply and I believe it's probably accurate.

HOWEVER - there is a big flaw if there is not another step.

Heres the flawed part

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then have ur contacts turn off imessage and turn it back on. this should update the change with ur contact info. while they are in the correct page also have them make sure that they have send as sms turned on in settings>messages.

if that doesnt work, then have them delete every conversation they have with u in it, delete u as a contact, and then re-add u and try to start a new conversation.

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I have 100s of contacts - you act as though a) I have every contact in my new phone and b) I have time to go through the process of contacting each one of them.

I was one of the people who started this thread - I gave up on Android and came back to Apple because of this (and the fact that battery life on my Android was horrible).