Moved to Android - People still sending SMS as iMessage

Hey Keith,

I completely agree with you, it's an absolute joke. They're our phone numbers and their service should not try to replace the functions delegated to a phone number. If Apple wants to run an IM service, users should be identified by something that doesn't effectively hijack the functionality of every other service on a phone.

That being said, I've included my post earlier in this thread below that helped me sort this issue out. After contacting support, it might take some time for the changes to fully propogate. Changes were immediate for some of my contacts, but not for others.. It's sort of hit or miss, but eventually everything worked out. 😠

It's worth noting that your son might have to message friends to remove him from any group messages they might have had him in, because for whatever reason even after having your number removed, existing group messages will not function properly. I believe it to be due to the way Apple stores the address in the group message (e.g. your Apple e-mail address rather than your phone number)

https://www.apple.com/contact/

Alright, I contacted Apple support and the guy seemed to know what I was talking about. After confirming the number was in fact mine he was able to remove the number from the iMessage system in a few minutes. Although the changes took a few hours to propogate through the system, everything seems to be going good now and I'm receiving messages from Apple devices once again.

Why I had to go through this trouble for messages sent to my phone number (not e-mail as some have suggested..) in the first place is still beyond me. Apple needs to sort this out as it is entirely an oversight on their end; transitioning between phones should not require reclaiming your own phone number.

If you hit road blocks (I did) telling you you don't qualify for free support, try all the options and you'll eventually hit one that will allow you to talk to a human being.

Best of luck,

Taylor

Whatever you do, do not let anyone convince you to install the iMessage App for Android now in google play. Numerous reports are now out that the app has several serious security flaws in it and I gather people are trying to get it removed from Google play if possible.

Just a heads up in case some Android users chimes in suggesting to try it.

Have you turned off iMessage for your mobile number before inserting it to your Android phone? If you have not turned it off before using it on another mobile phone not iOS, then your number will still be detected as registered in iMessage.

Related support article: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2755

Under "Additional Information":

If you plan on transferring your SIM card or phone number from an iPhone to a device that does not support iMessage, turn off iMessage in Settings > Messages first. If you do not, other iOS devices may continue to try to send a message using iMessage first, instead only using SMS or MMS.

The iPad being WiFi only doesn't matter. It is still possible to use your phone nubmer as an address if it on your AppleID. Check the send and receive for the iPad (and the MacBook) to see it it is there.

fastbagger wrote:

I am this forum because I did a search on iMessage. I switched from iPhone to Note 3 and I do not receive any texts from iPhones. I removed my iphone, 2 ipads, mac from database no help.

Then get rid of your inferior android phone and go back to iphone.

This is a two part fix.

Part 1 is getting your iMessage registration revoked if you do not have access to your prior iPhone. See http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5185

Part 2 requiries the cooperation of the sending iPhones.

On the sending iPhone do the following:

1. Select SETTINGS

2. Select MESSAGES

3. Enable SEND_AS_SMS

What number did you contact for Apple support?

You're being incredibly unhelpful. You're not going to convince anyone to switch back to an iphone here so just go away so we can solve our problems and move on.

You just responded to a 3 year old thread. I would just ignore the comments you don't like and let it go.

If you have access to an iPhone, insert your SIM then activate iMessage. Once activated, deactivate iMessage again. This is to somehow trigger the registration and de-registration of your mobile number from iMessage service. If still not working, call AppleCare. Hope this helps. 😉

pthickett wrote:

Just variants of my email address linked to my apple ID, from my original @mac, to @me and @icloud.

For your new phone, they should be using your phone number. That is the only thing assocaited with your SMS service with yor carrier.