Apple’s customer support claims Apple is hampered by an iMessage glitch

Apple’s customer support claims Apple is hampered by an iMessage glitch when users try to switch their phone.

There is a long-standing problem with iMessages being lost in selecting users’ phone when switching from one iPhone to another device. Apple is allegedly aware of the problem and unable to provide a solution, says former Lifehacker editor-in-chief Adam Pash, whose iPhone was affected by this message delivery problem.

After disabling their iPhone, some users experience an issue where iMessages sent by other iPhone owners are routed to the now deactivated iPhone and not forwarded, as with a text message, to the active phone. The recipient does not receive the text message, creating a situation that is frustrating for both people involved in the conversation.

Pash spoke to Apple’s customer support after he stopped receiving messages from iPhone-owning friends when he switched to an Android phone. Support staff confirmed:

Pash adds on this:

This problem with iMessage has been reported as early as 2011, shortly after the messaging service debuted as a flagship feature of iOS 5. iPhone owners are advised to disable iMessage before deactivating their mobile phone in order to remove the device. from Apple’s system and allow messages to be successfully forwarded as text messages to their new phone. This precaution of disabling iMessage apparently works for some, but not all iPhone owners who switch to another smartphone platform.