Apple acknowledges iMessage issue that hijacks your number when switching to Android

The Messages iOS app ties your phone number to your Apple ID, and ensures that people sending texts to your number arrive over iMessage, a free service, rather than SMSes through carriers, which is paid. This is great for all iPhone users, unless you happen to switch to an Android or Windows Phone.

Even after switching to a different platform, the Messages app on your friends’ iPhone continues to think that you still have an iPhone, and texts they send are delivered over iMessage, which means that you won’t see these texts on your Android phone. Moreover, the messages show up with a “Delivered” status on the sender’s iPhone, so they won’t even come to know that these messages aren’t going through.

Adam Pash, formerly of Lifehacker, had the same problem. He spoke to Apple tech support about this issue, and found that a lot of users are facing the same problem, but Apple doesn’t have a clear solution:

[Apple tech support] called me back, then explained

1. This is a problem a lot of people are facing.


2. The engineering team is working on it but is apparently clueless as to how to fix it.


3. There are no reliable solutions right now — for some people the standard fixes work immediately; many others are in my boat.

One of the solutions to this problem is removing your iPhone from My Support Profile (instructions), but this hasn’t helped Pash solve the issue. Other solutions include resetting the Apple ID password, logging out of FaceTime and iMessage from all iOS devices, but these haven’t helped Pash either.

Apple is probably not doing this intentionally, but for a user, this acts like a lock-in, and makes it very difficult to switch from an iPhone, given that there’s no easy way to fix this issue or let people know that you’re no longer on iMessage.

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EasyPay POS system at Apple Stores switching from iPod touch to iPhone 5s

Apple may be replacing the iPod touch units in its EasyPay POS system with iPhone 5s handsets as the company revamps its in-store checkout process. Sources familiar with the rollout confirmed this change to 9to5Mac.

Apple started using the EasyPay checkout system in its retail stores starting in 2009. The system uses an iPod touch with a sled attachment that provides each device with a barcode scanner and a magnetic strip reader for processing credit cards

Apple may be migrating to an advanced sled that provides RFID capabilities, a keypad for PIN input with debit card sales and support for Passbook scanning. The new system also has been updated to work with iOS 7.

In a memo to employees, Apple notes that the new hardware doubles battery life, adds a 2D bar code scanning, improved network connectivity, and “makes just about everything easier.” Apple adds that the updated software adds improved personal pickup that adds a bar code to the confirmation screen in the Apple Store app allowing employees to quickly scan and bring up orders using their EasyPay unit.

The reason why the company is switching to the more expensive iPhone 5s is not clear, but it’s possible that the new system could benefit from the faster hardware of the iPhone 5s. Touch ID could provide employees with faster logins to the payment system or as a way for customers to authorize their purchase. The iPhone 5s also supports calling, allowing employees to make a support call without requiring them to carry a second device.

Apple allegedly is rolling out the iPhone 5s units in select Apple stores nationwide with the goal of equipping all US stores with the updated POS platform in the next few weeks.

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