Using iMessage? Beware of International SMS Charges for Activation

Well the iOS 5 is finally here along with its other wonderful features like the iMessage is here. Like everyone else out there even I have upgraded to iOS 5 and was trying to activate the iMessage.

 But to my surprise I have found that while trying to activate iMessage, the app sends texts to an international UK number and that too several times. While my iPhone 4 is an unlocked version bought from Dubai and I’m using the iPhone 4 in India with an unsupported carrier (Tata DoCoMo). And my number is yet to be activated for iMessage service. So far my iPhone 4 has already sent 4 texts to different numbers.

 

After a little research I have found certain blogs suggesting that the issue might be occurring for devices that use numbers which are of non supported carriers with Apple. Apparently problems for activating the iMessage service for non carrier mobile numbers pre existed during the beta stages as well. And it seems that Apple has not been able to resolve the same as of yet or its just that too many users are trying to activate the service.

Well whatever the case maybe the fact remains that at the end of the day you will be charged for international SMS’s for activating the iMessage service.