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I did read the article. It sounds like if you don't have Find My iPhone enabled, #youFAIL.

Whatever happened to "It just works?" Oh, that's right, iMessages doesn't. #AppleJumpedTheShark.

Apple actually advises turning iMessage off before you get rid of the phone to avoid this. Although, I will admit they should make this more prominent than the support page you'd probably only find after it was too late.

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

#HUGEAppleFAIL. No way out.
 
Whatever happened to "It just works?" Oh, that's right, iMessages doesn't. #AppleJumpedTheShark.
Twitter hashtags have become the modern-day equivalent to middle-school girls saying "like" to begin every sentence and to fill in every third word.

iMessages does "just work" when you're actually using it, for the most part. It's clear that Apple didn't do a good job designing a way to get out of it. It seems pretty ridiculous to trash the entire service over that, though. As was said before, if you don't like it, don't use it.
 
Twitter hashtags have become the modern-day equivalent to middle-school girls saying "like" to begin every sentence and to fill in every third word.

iMessages does "just work" when you're actually using it, for the most part. It's clear that Apple didn't do a good job designing a way to get out of it. It seems pretty ridiculous to trash the entire service over that, though. As was said before, if you don't like it, don't use it.

I'm trying not to use it, but Apple won't let me.

Apple support has no idea how to solve it either. They refer to that "MyProducts" page, which I tried already.
 
How long ago did you use your iPhone? From my experience, iMessage will be automatically disabled on a device if it hasn't connected to the service for a specific period of time.

When my girlfriend went to Spain earlier this year, she didn't enable any roaming, so her phone was effectively offline for a week. Her phone showed up as an iMessage device for a couple of days, but then it reverted to text-message only until her return.

this is not true...take it from someone who spends plenty of time in thailand...iMessage works through wifi as well as carrier data...and it will still send an iMessage to your phone number via wifi as well not just the apple id
 
this is not true...take it from someone who spends plenty of time in thailand...iMessage works through wifi as well as carrier data...and it will still send an iMessage to your phone number via wifi as well not just the apple id
She didn't connect to WiFi - her phone was completely 'offline' for a week, and soon the familiar blue button for iMessage was replaced with a green one. I was actually trying to send her messages while she was out there, not knowing that she hadn't enabled roaming.
 
I'm trying not to use it, but Apple won't let me.
I was responding to the person I quoted. Your problem is not that Apple won't let you use the service - you already can't use the service because you're not using an iPhone. The problem is that your friends' devices are still sending messages to you via iMessage.

RTWG's scenario sounds plausible, and the more I think about it (based on my experiences), the more it seems like the issue is something on your end. Again, ensure that any other Apple devices that you have (Mac, iPad, iPod) are not set to receive iMessage messages through your phone number. To be safe, I would completely disable iMessage on those devices - at least for now. If you're using OS X 10.8.2, open Messages and do this through the preferences - your Mac can still receive iMessage messages even if the Messages application isn't open.

The reasoning behind that is based on how iMessage's switch-over occurs. If the device sends a message and doesn't receive a delivery confirmation after a while, it will send the message again via SMS. This switch-over isn't always perfect, but after a few hours (or certainly a few messages) it will happen. In my experience, the text messaging button turns green and remains green for that contact until one of their devices reconnects with the iMessage service. The fact that your friends' iPhones continue to use iMessage seemingly indicates that they're receiving delivery confirmations from one of your devices and/or that one of your devices is logging back in and alerting other Apple devices to the fact that you're iMessage-capable.

You can test this for yourself, as well. Have one of your friends send you a text message, and check to see if it says "delivered" underneath the message. If it is, you have a device that is receiving the messages and that keeps your friends' phones sending via iMessage.

Edit: I briefly read over the first page posts again, and saw you mention that you had disabled iMessage across all devices. Check it again, and also check to see if your friends' phones are showing the delivery confirmation when they send a text message. It's possible that your old phone is still receiving the messages and/or logging in through your account, but if you removed it from your devices in iCloud it should theoretically be cut off...
 
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The reasoning behind that is based on how iMessage's switch-over occurs. If the device sends a message and doesn't receive a delivery confirmation after a while, it will send the message again via SMS. This switch-over isn't always perfect, but after a few hours (or certainly a few messages) it will happen. In my experience, the text messaging button turns green and remains green for that contact until one of their devices reconnects with the iMessage service. The fact that your friends' iPhones continue to use iMessage seemingly indicates that they're receiving delivery confirmations from one of your devices and/or that one of your devices is logging back in and alerting other Apple devices to the fact that you're iMessage-capable.

You can test this for yourself, as well. Have one of your friends send you a text message, and check to see if it says "delivered" underneath the message. If it is, you have a device that is receiving the messages and that keeps your friends' phones sending via iMessage.

In reality, that isn't how it always works. I sold my 4 a week before the 5 came out and was using a dumbphone during that week. Even though I no longer was actively using an Apple device, iMessages were still being sent to my number and being marked as delivered. And no, my old device was not receiving them as I had checked with the new owner.
 
Twitter hashtags have become the modern-day equivalent to middle-school girls saying "like" to begin every sentence and to fill in every third word.

iMessages does "just work" when you're actually using it, for the most part. It's clear that Apple didn't do a good job designing a way to get out of it. It seems pretty ridiculous to trash the entire service over that, though. As was said before, if you don't like it, don't use it.

It is a pretty major fail when a messaging service sends your messages to the wrong person and doesn't let you log out no matter what you do short of physical destroying the iPhone that you don't have. This is the essence of what a messaging service is suppose to do! #iMessageRubeGolbergLogic

Also, #LikeWhatIsWrongWithSchoolGirls?
 
It is a pretty major fail when a messaging service sends your messages to the wrong person and doesn't let you log out no matter what you do short of physical destroying the iPhone that you don't have. This is the essence of what a messaging service is suppose to do! #iMessageRubeGolbergLogic

Also, #LikeWhatIsWrongWithSchoolGirls?

Are you aware you look like a pretentious tool EVERY single time you do this faux hashtag business?
 
In reality, that isn't how it always works. I sold my 4 a week before the 5 came out and was using a dumbphone during that week. Even though I no longer was actively using an Apple device, iMessages were still being sent to my number and being marked as delivered. And no, my old device was not receiving them as I had checked with the new owner.
I wouldn't be surprised if there were glitches or if it acted up, but if it's consistently getting a "delivered" receipt, some device had to be receiving it. I can't imagine how it would get the return-receipt otherwise. It has become tricky now that so many devices can patch into iMessage.

This is certainly an area that Apple could do a better job on. Then again, while iMessage has come a long way, it still needs some work in general.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if there were glitches or if it acted up, but if it's consistently getting a "delivered" receipt, some device had to be receiving it. I can't imagine how it would get the return-receipt otherwise. It has become tricky now that so many devices can patch into iMessage.

Nothing was receiving them. My old phone wasn't and I certainly didn't have any additional Apple devices.
 
Still not getting any SMS from iPhoners. I've removed ALL my Apple devices from the iCloud account now.
 
Still not getting any SMS from iPhoners. I've removed ALL my Apple devices from the iCloud account now.

It seems, my friend, we have opposing problems - you are trying to logout completely out of iMessage - I on the other hand, am desperately trying to login to the iMessage services !!!!!!

It won't let me sign on with my Apple ID. The beta version was working fine on all my devices, but as soon as I upgraded to iOS 6 and ML 10.8.2 - it kicked me off the iMessages. No matter what I did, it refuses to play ball….

Perhaps you can give me your S3 and I can give you my IP 4S…. that would solve both our problems !!!
 
How to Fix iMessage problem

I did both of these and then it finally cleared.

Method #1


1) Go to https://daw.apple.com/cgi-bin/WebOb...618204c476572a1b5e5fb3518&path&language=US-EN
2) Login
3) Deactivate your old phone
4) Shut off iPhone
5) Restart your droid phone and text someone and see if they can text you back
****If this doesn't work then go to method #2****

1) Shut down your Android phone
2) Remove sim Card
3) Remove Sim Card from iPhone (you can open sim trya by simply using a paperclip and pushing it in the hole.
4) Put new sim card from your android phone into iPhone 4 or 4S and turn on iPhone
5) Go into settings then scroll down to Messaging
6) Shut off iMessaging and turn on SMS Messaging.
7) Wait 2 min
8) Shut off iPhone 4 or 4S remove sim and put back into Android phone then restart phone.
9) Wahla!!! It should be working:D:D:D
****If you lost your phone you can use someone elses to do Method #2****

Hope this helps..if it works give me feedback...
 
I tried both those methods.

My friends' iPhone was carrier locked to another carrier. Duh.
 
Did the OP ever resolve this? I'm in the same exact position. I have nexus 4 phone now and I still have an iPad Retina and an iPad mini. When my family with iPhones text me or reply to a text, it goes to the iPads and not the phone. So, I disabled iMessage on both iPads and now I don't see their texts anywhere.
 
Again, I did wipe the phone before selling it.

iMessages are still delivered to my phone number, and since my Android can't receive them, they are lost in the cloud. I guess most my friends haven't checked the "send SMS if iMessages #fail".

How do you know messages are still delivered to your phone number? I sold my 4S (before getting the 5) and as soon as I reset my iPhone (for selling) my phone number immediately vanished from iPad and MacBook as 'send and receive' option. This only left my email (icloud account) to send and receive iMessages. As soon as I activated my new iPhone my phone number showed up on my iPad and MacBook again to use for iMessages.

Are you sure your friends aren't just sending iMessages to your email instead of your number?

Can u be with one of them and watch the message they send you to see if it is blue or green (SMS) on THEIR iPhone. Try deleting the Apple ID used for iMessage from your iPad/MacBook then re-enter it. If no iPhone is activated the number should not be there....it only shows the email associated with the Apple ID you use.
 
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Get a new phone number. Then the old one no longer matters. It would be like setting up a new phone as if you never bought iphone. So no need to mess with an iphone. Or get a cheap one off ebay and then resell it.
 
Get a new phone number. Then the old one no longer matters. It would be like setting up a new phone as if you never bought iphone. So no need to mess with an iphone. Or get a cheap one off ebay and then resell it.

Well, the weird thing is I do have a new number. This number has never been associated with an iPhone. I just texted my Dad and asked him to turn off iMessage on his iPhone 5 and now he can text me. Do iOS users really have to disable that feature in order to text non-iPhone users? Seems odd to me..
 
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