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truantbuick | 4 years ago

They held my number hostage for a while after I switched off iPhone. I think it took months for iPhone users to be able to message my number before it actually started reaching me again.

I think there's a lot of truth to the word "hijacking" here.

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dewey|4 years ago

truantbuick|4 years ago

I don't remember. It was many years ago -- circa 2015. Nevertheless, I'm irritated by the implication that it's the user's responsibility to do this.

At least as recently as last year, I've discovered instances where iPhone users will not have received a message/image (both from me and others in group chat) seemingly randomly.

I really don't like that Apple has managed to sell a prevailing narrative that it's somehow the fault of users who don't buy their expensive hardware that is necessary to use their software that impinges on an open protocol.

kergonath|4 years ago

It’s because the server still think iMessage is active with that number, and default to it over SMS. It’s a glitch, but is entirely unrelated to any hijacking. It just comes from the fact that the identifier for iMessage and SMS are identical, and that in some cases the system does not realise iMessages does not work. It is not trying to route SMSes as iMessages or anything like that.

gmu3|4 years ago

Yes I've seen a few people experience this hell as well. To just call it a UI abstraction is completely detached from reality and how it's implemented.

robflynn|4 years ago

How long ago was that? There used to be a bug related to that, but disabling iMessage on your device before you switch off would resolve it. Not obvious, I know. I'm unsure if that's still a thing or if I'm even remembering it correctly.

julienfr112|4 years ago

what if it is stolen/broken and you don't want to buy an iphone but an android ?