[truantbuick]

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.

[dewey]

Did you deregister your number?

https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage/

[truantbuick]

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.

[dewey]

> I'm irritated by the implication that it's the user's responsibility to do this

I don't think it's so irritating. When you set up your phone you are prompted to allow iMessage to use the number. If you allow it you'll have to remove it again after you decide to not use it again. Just like you have to cancel a subscription if you don't want to use it any more.

[kergonath]

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]

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]

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]

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

[quickthrowman]

https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage/

[robflynn]

That's definitely a problem. I wasn't claiming it wasn't an issue, I was curious how long ago it happened because I wanted to know if it was the same as the issue I experienced years ago.