Apple Launches Web Tool to Deregister Phone Numbers from iMessage

[H2SO4]

Indeed. Ran into this problem with a client about 7 months ago. 5 minutes on the phone with apple and I was set. iPhones which hadn't communicated with that user before worked instantly. iPhones wich had communicated previously and/or had existing contact cards required either a reboot, deleting the text conversation and starting a new one, or waiting a few days.

Should you have to pick up the phone? No, the tool is something which should have been there from the start, but at least the process they did have was practically painless.

Also, I think this touches on why it doesn't default to FaceTime audio. Loosing access to text messages is a minor annoyance with no significant legal consequences. Voice calls is a whole different ball of wax.

I don't think it was intentional however. I honestly think it was an oversight which they moved quickly to correct with a phone solution once they became aware of it. The web tool is just another front of support now.

Nonetheless, more options are great!

Karl P

It’s great that it works for you and to hear that the Applecare solution is a viable one.
BTW how is losing voice a completely different ball of wax legally from losing text?

Intentional or not. An oversight doesn’t last three years with complaining users. What seems intentional is that they didn’t want to fix it or it wasn’t important enough to them, probably because people that want to deregister would likely be leaving the iOS platform.

 

[Hurda]

It took them 3 years to fix it? Shame.

I'm more amazed that it needs a dedicated unregister-magic-website.

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I think you mean ex customer treatment.

People still using Macs but not iOS anymore aren't customers?
People using iMessage being unable to send messages to these people aren't customers?

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Use SMS.

That's the point: This isn't working in 100% of the case.
The magical iMessage, which is advertised as automagically switching to SMS for recipients which don't use iMessage, isn't actually switching to SMS for too many people.

 

[vmistery]

Ah iMessage turn off issues, the reason I bought a temporary iPhone 4 when i sold my iPhone 5 for a Note 3.

Looking forward to my new 6s next year

 

[below]

I would like the other way around …

What I am missing is a tool to keep my number in iMessage.

I travel frequently, and thus swap SIMs in my phones. And de-registration always works flawlessly: The minute I replace my SIM for carrier X with a SIM for carrier Y in my phone, the number associated with SIM X is gone from iMessage.
Until I put the SIM for carrier X back in.

I realize that this is the way it is designed, to prevent people from not getting messages. But I would want some sort of way to say: "YES, I still have that number, right now it's just in a drawer in my desk"

(If I keep the SIM in a device —*even if powered off —*it stays registered)

Alex

 

[NMBob]

Anyway, since iMessage basically hijacks your phone number without asking or even informing the user it's perfectly feasable that many people send messages like they've always done without even realizing that they're using Apple's proprietary system.

Build it for idiots, and they will come.

 

[MH01]

iMessage has been a big bag of fail, for me anyway. From getting messages on only some devices, to currently not being able to message people unless I turn imessage on.

At least three years on Apple addressed this bug / oversight.

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That's the point: This isn't working in 100% of the case.
The magical iMessage, which is advertised as automagically switching to SMS for recipients which don't use iMessage, isn't actually switching to SMS for too many people.

Bingo. I am really frustrated by this. Have had to move to whatsapp to message these people cause iMessage is *******!

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Before fix, people pissed off, after fix, people pissed off. You guys like being pissed off?

Would you be upset if took three years? Might explain people being pissed off? no?

 

[hagar]

It's still unclear to me why this deregistering is necessary... iphone A sends an iMessage to iPhone B via the Apple Servers. Apple Server cannot reach iPhone B over iMessage and notifies iPhone A to switch to green messages. Done.

As Apple has complete control over the whole process and doesn't rely on other parties, this deregistering is completely absurd. Maybe it's just to show evidence in their lawsuit that they did provide a solution.

The only reason I can think of is complete oversight and a bad architecture that is not easily to rectify.

Similar to why Apple is still not able to...
- order messages chronologically on all devices,
- notify senders that their messages did not reach the recipient while they are shown as 'delivered'
- send messages over iOS 8 without the user having to reboot as otherwise messages get stuck on send.

 

[576316]

Something about the term 'non-Apple phone' doesn't sit right with me. Seeing as the only phone Apple produces, why didn't they just pop 'iPhone' in there? Odd wording.

 

[iapplelove]

It took them 3 years to fix it? Shame.

lol I don't think they wanted to fix it, for obvious reasons.

 

[diamond.g]

It's still unclear to me why this deregistering is necessary... iphone A sends an iMessage to iPhone B via the Apple Servers. Apple Server cannot reach iPhone B over iMessage and notifies iPhone A to switch to green messages. Done.

As Apple has complete control over the whole process and doesn't rely on other parties, this deregistering is completely absurd. Maybe it's just to show evidence in their lawsuit that they did provide a solution.

The only reason I can think of is complete oversight and a bad architecture that is not easily to rectify.

Similar to why Apple is still not able to...
- order messages chronologically on all devices,
- notify senders that their messages did not reach the recipient while they are shown as 'delivered'
- send messages over iOS 8 without the user having to reboot as otherwise messages get stuck on send.

I think the problem is the system never notifies phone A that the message failed to deliver. If anything maybe Apple should have made deregistration automatic, after two failed attempts to send message via iMessage remove number from system until device with said number successfully reregisters on the network.

 

[Windlasher]

What do they do when they eventually come back to iPhone? Un-Deregister?

I was just going to ask that - What if a momentary lapse I decide Android is for me but that I get hit in the head and realize the insanity of my delusion? Am I now banned from the Apple Family forever?

Of course now that this has been announced, Samsung has already dispatched secret couriers to switch from the iPhone to Galaxy and back again. Tuesday or so we will see the #imessagegate rear its ugly head.

Then again, that would be admitting that someone wanted to go back after trying a Galaxy. This could be a tricky one for Samsung. I'm still waiting the their CEO to come OUT.

 

[FriednTested]

What do they do when they eventually come back to iPhone? Un-Deregister?

No... Just DEDEREGISTER...

 

[Lennholm]

What do they do when they eventually come back to iPhone? Un-Deregister?

They don't have to do anything, the iPhone will happily re-hijack the phone number.

 

[numlock]

My country is not even listed in the list.

WTF???

same here.

this is comically amateurish

 

[dumastudetto]

I predict nobody will ever use this tool. iMessage is incredible technology and I can't imagine one person who will want to opt out of the seamless integration you get across all your devices.

 

[joueboy]

I can't imagine developing this tool with all the talents and resources they got. They could have just made an iMessage app for Android and Windows Phone too. Because the value of this would have been an easy $30 billion added to company's asset. WhatsApp is worth $20 billion when Facebook acquire them. Can you imagine how popular this messaging app when they make it available to all platforms. This is the like iTunes for instant messaging and it's good for everyone. Everybody will be happy and Apple will be 30 billion richer. It's a win-win situation.

 

[samcraig]

It's the users' faults for not turning off their iMessage account before they switched.

I think this is a fail in logic personally. I would imagine that most general non-techie users wouldn't think about all the settings they may or may not have to change before turning in their phone and getting a new one.

I would go further that if any of these cases were people that traded in their phones at an Apple store and suffered this issue, it's pretty shameless because Apple should have made sure the customer was taken care of and turned everything off/wiped the phone.

I also think that for other 3rd party retailers (I'm talking the bigger ones) and the carriers should have had a checklist that they went though before recycling the phone. That onus isn't specifically on Apple - although Apple should have given direction there. But part of the problem is that it wasn't (I believe) a known issue at first.

But when it was first realized, it should have been procedure.

My .02.

 

[joshuarayer]

At least they need to verify that you are the owner of the phone number. Now, with this tool you can send the verification message to any phone number you know that is using iMessage, waking people up at night. Still not the best solution.

I will agree with that it isnt the best solution. I no longer have an iPhone and tested it out anyway, and it said my number wasn't registered to receive iMessages when I entered the 6-digit code I was sent a text message to. If anything, they could have done that check before sending the text message to keep people from receiving spam text messages.

Or they could have just had you login with your iCloud account and de-register any iPhone on the account instead of using the phone number.

 

[tito2020]

Its a start for them to open the os bit by bit

 

[noobinator]

It's still unclear to me why this deregistering is necessary... iphone A sends an iMessage to iPhone B via the Apple Servers. Apple Server cannot reach iPhone B over iMessage and notifies iPhone A to switch to green messages. Done.

If only it worked that way!

 

[cfedu]

Talking of dumb, what about people who come up with simplistic solutions that don't work if a phone is stolen or lost

If your iPhone gets stolen buy another 1000$ iPhone thats an easy solution! If you can't afford one, I don't think apple really cares about your text problems. Why should apple help people who can don't even afford their products?




(Sarcasm)

 

[PsykX]

It took them 3 years to fix it? Shame.

Just like it took them 3 years to roll out a "Maps Connect" web service!
Maybe Forstall didn't think about it back then, but it took them another 2 years to roll this out...

But back on topic about iMessage : This is an extra step that you shouldn't have to do.

The good news is : We now have those two services!

 

[Keirasplace]

Just like it took them 3 years to roll out a "Maps Connect" web service!
Maybe Forstall didn't think about it back then, but it took them another 2 years to roll this out...

But back on topic about iMessage : This is an extra step that you shouldn't have to do.

The good news is : We now have those two services!

You don't have to normally. This is for people who didn't do it the right way for the last 2 years and are not technically savvy to fix their mistake.

 

[zorrobyte]

I don't think it was that big of a deal to chat or call in to deregister iMessage. Just like the check Activation Lock page, it's nice to have options.

 

[noobinator]

So does this actually work? Last time I used android a month ago all my friends who owned iPhones kept sending me iMessages not realizing I wasn't getting their messages. It should be seamless and I shouldnt have to alert my contacts to do anything.

Last time i turned off iMessage before switching phones, I removed my number from Apple support and I texted STOP to whatever address Apple told me. Despite all this I still never got any messages from people with iPhones.