iPhone SE (2016) iPhone SE can't text Android.

[Apple_Robert]

My brother is new to iPhones. He has a used SE. He is with Sprint. The SIM card he has in it is one that his daughter bought from Sprint, even though the iPhone X I sold her last year was bought outright from Apple.

My brother can send and receive iMessages without any problems. If he tries to send or respond to a text from a Android person, it won't go through. He gets the red exclamation point error that the message couldn't be sent. He has tried resetting all settings etc.

Is this a Sprint SIM card issue? Anyone run into this problem before? We could use some help.

 

[Freakonomics101]

Seems like an issue on Sprint’s side. I would contact them and see if there’s a provisioning issue.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Seems like an issue on Sprint’s side. I would contact them and see if there’s a provisioning issue.

I appreciate the reply. That was my thinking as well. I am waiting on him to call back.

 

[joeblow7777]

Could it be that it's trying to send as an iMessage for some reason? Has he turned on the setting to send as an SMS text if iMessage fails?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Could it be that it's trying to send as an iMessage for some reason? Has he turned on the setting to send as an SMS text if iMessage fails?

I told him to turn it on just now. He has it on and he tried to text his Android wife, and it wouldn't go through.

 

[jnl7974]

Have your brother delete his wife's phone# stored & re-enter it.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I told him to turn it on just now. He has it on and he tried to text his Android wife, and it wouldn't go through.

I’ve been having this problem intermittently with my X on Verizon. It only happens when I send text to an android device. Sometimes it hangs, sometimes I get the “not delivered” and sometimes it goes through. It’s very hit or miss.

 

[davidinva]

I had an SE, now an 8+. Version. No problem with the SE. 8+ works, but do not see “delivered” notice always.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Seems like an issue on Sprint’s side. I would contact them and see if there’s a provisioning issue.

Indeed this is a provisioning issue on the opposite end. Quick test:

Send yourself an SMS ... disable iMessage for this test. If it sends and receives to your mobile # you're good.
Send your friend or any other Android users (regardless of carrier) if it is received and they can reply - both of you are good.

To the specific people our Ops is trying to send to. Have their people do the exact same two tests above.
A) if it works for them - most likely this will "enable" SMS Originating and Terminating (these are VERY OLD-SCHOOL SMS terminology for GSM networks and thus GPRS/EDGE/LTE networks that are built on-top of CDMA/CDMA-1000/CDMA-WCDMA networks ... since this provisioning is OFF by default until initiated by a tech with access to the switch or the end user.

Now can they send to you with iMessage disabled, Op?
IF so and you can reply in which THEY"VE received then SMS is good.

Now do the same with iMessage enabled.

PS: For Android user ... sometimes powercycling the phone re-initiates provisioning that is enabled on the network for their mobile # to their SIM card - Airplane Mode does NOT do this.

Cheers.
[doublepost=1555010799][/doublepost]PS:

I've noticed Android users replying to iOS users with iMessage on seems to evoke repeated SMS being sent to me randomly on two carriers (Wind/Freedom Mobile & Koodo).

 

[Breaking Good]

My brother is new to iPhones. He has a used SE. He is with Sprint. The SIM card he has in it is one that his daughter bought from Sprint, even though the iPhone X I sold her last year was bought outright from Apple.

Can you please elaborate on the above? Sprint is different from the other three carriers in that they have multiple versions of their SIM card. The specific version you use depends on the model of phone you have. The iPhone SE and X may use different versions of SIM cards.

Also, Sprint assigns the SIM card to a specific phone. So unlike the other carriers, you can't just remove the SIM card from one phone and use it in another.

Your brother may need to take his phone to a Sprint Repair Center to fix the issue. A typical Sprint store, even if it is Corporate owned, won't be able to help him. Only the Sprint Repair Centers carry extra SIM cards.

Edit: Since it is an iPhone, you can also try an Apple Store. They should have the correct SIM card for his iPhone SE.

If I was your brother, I would make an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar or Spring Repair Center (whichever is more convenient) to have them troubleshoot and fix the issue.