Official Apple knowledge base info:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5185
I think it's important to note that the Apple KB explicitly states that the steps outlined in the parent comment and article do not work.
Which conflicts with http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5538 (under Unlink a phone number).
Re:iMessage purgatory
by benjarrell on Tuesday May 13, 2014 @04:04PM
(#7740363)
What that doesn't say is that when you call, they will tell you that a support incident will cost $30.
Re:iMessage purgatory
by powdahound on Tuesday May 13, 2014 @03:46PM
(#7740242)
I did all this a few weeks ago but still had to wait a few weeks for my friends' iPhones to realize my number was no longer iMessage enabled. During that time they all had to "Resend as SMS" on their messages to me.
We all ended up on Google Hangouts in the end (the iOS app is nice!)
"Performing these tasks won't deregister iMessage" from: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5185
What is the point of that section then?
Because the steps in that section keep getting passed around as possible fixes. Some of them are mentioned in this very thread. Sadly, it's been my experience that the fix Apple does suggest doesn't work reliably (works for some, not for others), either.
EDIT: holy crap, as toddn points out above, apparently that section is also to contradict the bad information that is passed around in Apple's own KB articles: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5538
1. Reset your Apple ID password and do not log back in on your device(s)
2. Send a text to 48369 with the word STOP
It won’t happen immediately but over a 12-hour period, you should start receiving texts on your Android device that are sent from iPhone users.
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-keep-receiving-sm...