Apple puts service online to unlink iMessage

Apple has without publicity put a service online to extract phone numbers from the iMessage system. The unlinking should prevent problems with not receiving messages after a switch to, for example, an Android smartphone.

The appearance of the unsubscribe service for iMessage was noticed by users of Reddit. “You may need to close iMessage if you’re currently using a non-Apple phone and can’t receive SMS or text messages sent from an iPhone,” Apple said. The tool unlinks a phone number from the iMessage system. Apple then sends a confirmation SMS, which the user must enter at the service to complete the disconnection.

The tool aims to solve problems that users encountered when switching from an iPhone to a device with a different OS. Apple often allowed messages that contacts sent to those users to go through iMessage, so those messages did not arrive. Users even started a so-called class action lawsuit against Apple in May of this year to recover damages from the manufacturer.