Apple this weekend launched a new Web-based tool to deregister a user’s phone number from the company’s iMessage service. The Deregister iMessage tool addresses an issue experienced by users who switched from the iPhone to a non-Apple smartphone and subsequently could not receive text messages from other iPhone users.
The issue involves the way that Apple has integrated its proprietary iMessage service with users’ contact information. When an iPhone user enables iMessage, they have the option of using the service via their mobile phone number and any compatible email addresses. This means that a user’s contacts can reach them with an iMessage via a number of contact methods. If an iMessage user eventually changes to a non-Apple smartphone platform, however, they can no longer use iMessage, but their contacts’ iPhones will continue to try and send text messages via iMessage, even when using the intended recipient’s mobile number only.
A solution to this issue is for the user to turn iMessage off in their iPhone’s settings before switching to a new phone, but many iPhone users are unaware of this requirement and no longer have access to their iPhone. As a result, Apple has long required users to call the company directly and request a remote deregistration of their mobile number from iMessage. While the company has streamlined this process, forcing users to call is time-consuming for both customers and Apple, and hence the launch of the new self-help Web-based Deregister iMessage tool.
Affected users can head over to the tool’s website, enter their mobile number, and receive a confirmation code via SMS. Once the code is verified, a user’s non-Apple smartphone should begin receiving SMS-based text messages from other iPhone users within 24 hours, although we’ve heard from some users who reported that it took much less time.
If you still have your iPhone and are planning to switch to a non-Apple device, the best way to avoid this issue is still to turn off iMessage before switching phones (go to Settings > Messages and slide iMessage to off), but it’s good to have this automated tool as a backup and avoid having to place a call to Apple.
