Apple's iMessage Delivery Problems Worsened by Server Glitch

[HenryDJP]

Since this has been an issue since iOS 5 the sales people who were chasing the extra commission of a SPIFFd non-iPhone are to blame for this getting out of hand. A good sales person knows his product and how to give the customer the best experience with their new product. Therefore if a customer was switching from an iPhone to competing platform, the first question to ask after finding if the customer wants to migrate photos and contacts is do they use Apple's iMessage feature (ie do you get Blue text balloons when you text other iPhone users?). If so, before switching the SIM, the salesperson should help the customer go into settings and turn off the iMessage feature and then send a test text to a known iPhone contact to verify that iMessage is disabled, indicated by the Green text balloon. This simple effort by the sales staff should have eliminated the majority of the defecting iPhone users text receipt issues after it was initially discovered.

I worked for a Sprint for 7 years and I can tell you first hand you know nothing about cellular phone sales. That wouldn't be a common question for a salesperson to ask a customer in terms of them using Apple's iMessage. Even if that was a common question it's not common knowledge outside of these forums or online bloggers about the iMessage issue. I'm pretty sure there are a handful of issues with Samsung phones or the Android OS that wouldn't necessarily be common knowledge outside of tech forums. What about the Tab Reloading issue in iOS? I've even spoken to a few people at Apple about it. Some of the salespeople knew about it but the sales manager was unaware of it.

A good salesperson does know their product but it doesn't mean they're not a good salesperson if they aren't aware of such issues. And are you serious blaming sales people for Apple mistakes? By the way cellular sales people don't get paid on phone sales they get paid on activations.

 

[redbeard20]

Why so many people here are blaming the victims because of a presumed switch to Android - as if that matters - I find bizarre and a poor reflection of us as Apple customers.

But I registered on this forum just to share my profound disappointment in Apple for this issue. It has caused me months of frustration and stress. It wasn't until recently - from reading on this site - that I learned iMessage is the source of the problem. I just knew I wasn't getting texts after porting my number to Google Voice. I thought the problem was with Google Voice, which I read sometimes has issues with lost texts in the days after a port. After the problem didn't go away I ported to another online phone service, which had its own headaches. Now that I learn this is Apple's fault all along. Since they didn't do an adequate job of publicizing the issue, much less trying to fix it, I am seriously considering switching to an Android phone for the first time.

Apple needs to understand that it's alright to screw up as long as you own up to it in a timely manner. I've tolerated their taciturn, obnoxious behavior for over a decade now, but I think my patience is running out.

 

[Mildredop]

Google Hangouts! It's what I use. Cross platform for both mobile and desktop. If you use Chrome on your desktop, you can install Hangouts as a desktop extension so it behaves like a standalone messaging app.

I don't know anyone who actually uses hangouts - I use the hangouts app but only ever in SMS mode.

If the hangouts desktop app could somehow display my SMSs and remotely send SMSs, that'd be fab.

----------

Why so many people here are blaming the victims because of a presumed switch to Android - as if that matters - I find bizarre and a poor reflection of us as Apple customers.

But I registered on this forum just to share my profound disappointment in Apple for this issue. It has caused me months of frustration and stress. It wasn't until recently - from reading on this site - that I learned iMessage is the source of the problem. I just knew I wasn't getting texts after porting my number to Google Voice. I thought the problem was with Google Voice, which I read sometimes has issues with lost texts in the days after a port. After the problem didn't go away I ported to another online phone service, which had its own headaches. Now that I learn this is Apple's fault all along. Since they didn't do an adequate job of publicizing the issue, much less trying to fix it, I am seriously considering switching to an Android phone for the first time.

Apple needs to understand that it's alright to screw up as long as you own up to it in a timely manner. I've tolerated their taciturn, obnoxious behavior for over a decade now, but I think my patience is running out.

Very well said. Apple definitely have a certain arrogance which can be so frustrating as an Apple user (the "you're holding it wrong" shenanigans springs to mind).

Good luck getting everything sorted.

 

[roadbloc]

This is bad work Apple. It's a damn message client. We've had them down to a T since 1995 at least! 0/10.

 

[Lennholm]

iMessage for Android would solve this problem!

It would be a great show of good faith from Apple if they released an Android iMessage app that can be used by existing iMessage phone no.s. It wouldn't have to be open for all.

I'm surprised Samsung hasn't stolen that technology as well. Or maybe they just want someone other than themselves suing Apple.

Samsung doesn't have the guts to screw the carriers over like that, that's why they haven't done it.

So let me get this straight!

You're going to give the middle finger to the most valuable company in the world so you can sleep with the enemy, and Apple is suppose to help you with this process and let you make a seamless transition?

This is not a bug or an issue IMO. I honestly don't think they will even fix it, nor should they.

Seeing as the iMessage service simply hijacks your phone no. by default, Apple certainly have the responsibility to make sure they don't mess it up for users who want to leave the Apple garden. Locking people in by sabotage isn't acceptable. Would you reason the same way if, say, Microsoft did this instead of Apple? Somehow, I think not.

 

[satcomer]

iMessage for Android would solve this problem!
Though seriously I would love either a web based and other OS based solutions to iMessage. I love using it but at work I'm stuck on a Windows PC. Rather than having to pull out my phone when ever my Pebble goes off I'd love to be able to just reply on the computer, which is what I do most of the time at home.... same goes if I were to switch to and Android phone/device.

Oh well one can keep wishing.

Then you are wishing for an iMessage web site at iCloud.com.

 

[dumastudetto]

Why is this even being discussed as a "problem"? Apple should just have one recommendation to people facing this issue - "Buy an iPhone". I don't understand why Apple would have to go the extra mile to help users with competitor devices. If anything this proves staying within Apples ecosystem "Just Works". Why bother about those who choose to leave it? They ought to suffer the consequences. I don't see Apple bending backwards to make life easy for Windows users.

I totally agree with this. If people want to consider abandoning iOS and iPhone, then be prepared to lose your phone number as an additional cost in your decision. Apple should not be spending time and money trying to fix this genuine advantage. It's a good problem to have. If you're thinking of switching to Android or another platform, know you may well lose text messages and other important communications because you no longer have access to the seamless integration with iMessages. It's your call as a consumer.

 

[Hurda]

Some of these posts are absolutely hilarious. Keep 'em coming.

 

[RobertoCravallo]

Why is this even being discussed as a "problem"? Apple should just have one recommendation to people facing this issue - "Buy an iPhone". I don't understand why Apple would have to go the extra mile to help users with competitor devices. If anything this proves staying within Apples ecosystem "Just Works". Why bother about those who choose to leave it? They ought to suffer the consequences. I don't see Apple bending backwards to make life easy for Windows users.

Wow, you are surely brainwashed!!! "Apples ecosystem" is forcing (tricking?) you to stay with them and that is ok with you? Wow, does your momy help you dress?

I fell for this APPLE "feature" when I had my SIM-Card in a different phone and my phone WITHOUT ANY SIM-card was still getting text messages.... Good thing that I noticed that before giving away my phone!!! Some stranger would have gotten my texts, because the messaging is locked to the phone and not the SIM. What kind of logic is that? And some people are worried about the NSA, is this any different? Love the people on this forum that don't understand this and think it's the providers, NOT!! It's APPLE!!!

In effect, APPLE is highjacking my messages!!! At no point in my use of the IPHONE was I asked, if this was ok and to handle messaging this way!! I had to google how to turn that mess off!!!

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It's your call as a consumer.

Correct and that Steve is still telling me from the grave how I should use MY (I did buy it!!) IPHONE, is exactly the reason I switched...

----------

Apple needs to understand that it's alright to screw up as long as you own up to it in a timely manner. I've tolerated their taciturn, obnoxious behavior for over a decade now, but I think my patience is running out.

So true!! It seems they just sit stuff out rather than trying to stay the cutting edge company they used to be. Still love my MACS (except that a company like APPLE can't get the mail client to work correctly...), but after a bunch of IPHONEs I gave up on the phone...

 

[RobertoCravallo]

But he still gets my FaceTime calls - BECAUSE HE HAS MY OLD PHONE NUMBER. It's been this way for months now.

It's not the SIM, it's the phone ID!! Try the "old" phone without ANY SIM and he will still get your imessages!!

In essence, your imessages will always go to that IPHONE no matter what kind of SIM is inside!! In my case, NONE at all!! It really had my confused, when I was getting meesages on a phone without a SIM-card in it!!! Try it out!!

 

[HenryDJP]

Wow, you are surely brainwashed!!! "Apples ecosystem" is forcing (tricking?) you to stay with them and that is ok with you? Wow, does your momy help you dress?

No different than Microsoft's tactics. And there's no need for you to insult the member just to make your point.

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Why so many people here are blaming the victims because of a presumed switch to Android - as if that matters - I find bizarre and a poor reflection of us as Apple customers.

But I registered on this forum just to share my profound disappointment in Apple for this issue. It has caused me months of frustration and stress. It wasn't until recently - from reading on this site - that I learned iMessage is the source of the problem. I just knew I wasn't getting texts after porting my number to Google Voice. I thought the problem was with Google Voice, which I read sometimes has issues with lost texts in the days after a port. After the problem didn't go away I ported to another online phone service, which had its own headaches. Now that I learn this is Apple's fault all along. Since they didn't do an adequate job of publicizing the issue, much less trying to fix it, I am seriously considering switching to an Android phone for the first time.

Apple needs to understand that it's alright to screw up as long as you own up to it in a timely manner. I've tolerated their taciturn, obnoxious behavior for over a decade now, but I think my patience is running out.

Now hold on a second. Google Voice most likely IS your problem. Two of my friends who had an iPhone but switched to an Android had no problems with text messages. We were all iMessage fanatics. After they switched we continued to SMS one another without issue.
Months later one of them decided to attach their number to Google Voice and it all went down hill. It's bad enough GV has poor calling quality but sometimes he doesn't receive calls and the texting is wonky at best. Now it's hard for him to remove his number from GV.

Just because you came here and read about the iMessage issue doesn't mean it applies to you.

 

[catanalogy]

Some of these posts are absolutely hilarious. Keep 'em coming.

Dumastud's posts are the absolute best. I highly recommend reading all of them from the beginning forward. They're some of the most pitch-perfect fanboi trolling I've ever seen on the internet.

It's been a fun project to hunt down which of his posts are actual copy-and-paste jobs from Apple's own marketing materials. I've found ten so far. And I do mean copy-and-paste: The wording, punctuation, etc. is exact.

 

[tdale]

So let me get this straight!

You're going to give the middle finger to the most valuable company in the world so you can sleep with the enemy, and Apple is suppose to help you with this process and let you make a seamless transition?

This is not a bug or an issue IMO. I honestly don't think they will even fix it, nor should they.

That is harsh, and it is also incorrect and irrational.

First, they are fixing it.

Second, the fault affects the ability of the Telco to do what both customers want, to send or receive a text message on the Telco's SMS service.

 

[AppleScruff1]

It's not a glitch, it's a feature!

 

[tdale]

Dumastud's posts are the absolute best. I highly recommend reading all of them from the beginning forward. They're some of the most pitch-perfect fanboi trolling I've ever seen on the internet.

It's been a fun project to hunt down which of his posts are actual copy-and-paste jobs from Apple's own marketing materials. I've found ten so far. And I do mean copy-and-paste: The wording, punctuation, etc. is exact.

LOL. A slight variation from Clint Eastwood, "you made my day"!! A good read

 

[johnmacward]

Since this has been an issue since iOS 5 the sales people who were chasing the extra commission of a SPIFFd non-iPhone are to blame for this getting out of hand. A good sales person knows his product and how to give the customer the best experience with their new product. Therefore if a customer was switching from an iPhone to competing platform, the first question to ask after finding if the customer wants to migrate photos and contacts is do they use Apple's iMessage feature (ie do you get Blue text balloons when you text other iPhone users?). If so, before switching the SIM, the salesperson should help the customer go into settings and turn off the iMessage feature and then send a test text to a known iPhone contact to verify that iMessage is disabled, indicated by the Green text balloon. This simple effort by the sales staff should have eliminated the majority of the defecting iPhone users text receipt issues after it was initially discovered.

Yes, absolutely - this would be ideal. But these people are not to blame for an iOS bug. That's getting other companies to do Apple's work.

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Why is this even being discussed as a "problem"? Apple should just have one recommendation to people facing this issue - "Buy an iPhone". I don't understand why Apple would have to go the extra mile to help users with competitor devices. If anything this proves staying within Apples ecosystem "Just Works". Why bother about those who choose to leave it? They ought to suffer the consequences. I don't see Apple bending backwards to make life easy for Windows users.

I don't know mate, maybe it's something to do with the fact that Apple don't OWN MY ****ING PHONE NUMBER, I DO!

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So let me get this straight!

You're going to give the middle finger to the most valuable company in the world so you can sleep with the enemy, and Apple is suppose to help you with this process and let you make a seamless transition?

This is not a bug or an issue IMO. I honestly don't think they will even fix it, nor should they.

Your phone number is something you own, not Apple, not Android, not Nokia, not HTC, not anybody but you. Apple seem to OWN it when you set up on their service and ACKNOWLEDGE that they shouldn't own it and are trying to fix that. What are you actually talking about here?

iMessage was designed wrong from the start - that's the problem.

----------

Dumastud's posts are the absolute best. I highly recommend reading all of them from the beginning forward. They're some of the most pitch-perfect fanboi trolling I've ever seen on the internet.

It's been a fun project to hunt down which of his posts are actual copy-and-paste jobs from Apple's own marketing materials. I've found ten so far. And I do mean copy-and-paste: The wording, punctuation, etc. is exact.

You're right, I've just had a look. Absolutely shocking. Who pays them?

I like Apple products which is why I'm on this site, but like all companies they do stuff wrong sometimes and they've got to be called on it.

Except, then he /she comes along and proves other points about rationality - or the lack thereof.

I think I could swear he / she is deeply religious. Unquestioning faith is a stupid and dangerous thing.

 

[MrXiro]

Then you are wishing for an iMessage web site at iCloud.com.

I am... A web based solution would be best. I'm not allowed to install jack squat at my work computer.

 

[satcomer]

I am... A web based solution would be best. I'm not allowed to install jack squat at my work computer.

Just like most every other work computer.

 

[ViperDesign]

I totally agree with this. If people want to consider abandoning iOS and iPhone, then be prepared to lose your phone number as an additional cost in your decision. Apple should not be spending time and money trying to fix this genuine advantage. It's a good problem to have. If you're thinking of switching to Android or another platform, know you may well lose text messages and other important communications because you no longer have access to the seamless integration with iMessages. It's your call as a consumer.

I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not, but if you are not, are you f'in kidding me???

It is my number and APPLE is screwing it up. It is not their right to hijack my number because they can't get their **** in line.

 

[MrXiro]

Just like most every other work computer.

When I worked at Sony we could install anything. It was awesome, no blocked websites either.

 

[ssspinball]

or this

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/21/tech/innovation/google-apple-brand-value/index.html

Right, a subjective brand survey. In other words, exactly what I said.

 

[dumastudetto]

I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not, but if you are not, are you f'in kidding me???

It is my number and APPLE is screwing it up. It is not their right to hijack my number because they can't get their **** in line.

Genuinely you chose to link your number to iMessages. Yes they provide a service that probably helped save you huge sums of money, but it's up to you to research the potential drawbacks of opting into it.

 

[tdale]

Genuinely you chose to link your number to iMessages. Yes they provide a service that probably helped save you huge sums of money, but it's up to you to research the potential drawbacks of opting into it.

Completely wrong. Your a fanboy, and that's ok, but if you choose to link your phone number, that should not result in in accessibility of your phone number used by your telco for SMS .

Clearly there is probably a correct sequence to unlink but you cannot expect everybody to read manuals when changing platform. Apple just need to add a warning if you reset the iPhone. ”if you will not be using Apple iMessages, please cancel this reset and do blah blah blah to allow us to unlink your phone number from iMessage. "