Apple has acknowledged the server glitch with its iMessage platform that prevents Apple users from sending messages to former iDevice owners.
Apple, the second largest smartphone and tablet making company, is addressing a glitch in its internet-based messaging service, iMessage which does not allow users to access messages when they switch from iPhones to smartphones on other platforms.
Apple's iMessage platform has it's pros but this recent bug is overshadowing all its positives. Apple iPhone users can send unlimited text messages to different iOS-based devices such as iPads, Macs and iPhones without being billed under the carrier's SMS plans. While iMessage works in a similar fashion like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, it is limited to Apple devices, much like BBM before it was expanded to other platforms.
The main problem arose when people switched form an iPhone to a non-Apple device and found it difficult to dissociate their phone numbers from iMessage. As a result, when an iPhone user tried sending an iMessage to a former iPhone user, the messages disappeared in Apple's database. Under normal circumstances Apple is supposed to convert the text to a traditional SMS format and forward it to the non-Apple device. The complaints surrounding this issue date back to as early as 2005, when Apple first launched the private messaging platform in iOS 5, Wall Street Journal reports.
Apple has listed some remedies to fix the on-going issue on its Support Pages. First off, customers must turn off iMessage before making a switch to another smartphone. In case, the customer has already made the switch and cannot access the smartphone, he or she must contact Apple for a solution.
The frustration surrounding Apple's iMessage platform has also led a woman to file a suit in California seeking a class-action status for the suit, Re/Code reports. According to the filing last week, Apple has violated California's unfair competition law as the glitch in Apple devices interferes with wireless carriers' ability to offer their services to the customers.
Apple did not reply to Re/Code's request to comment on the situation but confirmed it was working on a fix to the problem.
"We recently fixed a server-side iMessage bug which was causing an issue for some users, and we have an additional bug fix in a future software update," Apple told Re/code in a statement. "For users still experiencing an issue, please contact AppleCare."
