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Apple’s missing iMessage headache continues as tech giant forced to face class action lawsuit
Apple has been forced to face a US federal lawsuit which claims the tech company failed to inform its customers that their messages could be blocked if they switched to Android phones.
A class action lawsuit was brought against the tech giant in May by Californian Adrienne Moore, who alleged that Apple had interfered with her Verizon wireless contract which entitled her to text messages.
A US district judge yesterday ordered that Apple must face Moore’s claim.
Users who swap an iPhone for an Android device have often been unable to receive SMS messages from other iPhone users. If a phone number is still registered to iMessage despite being on a Android phone, SMS messages from iPhone users are often sent to the deactivated iPhone rather than the new device.
Two days ago Apple released a new tool for users to deregister from iMessage. Users must either manually turn off the app on their iPhone, or request a confirmation code from the Apple website.
However, Moore argued that when she switched to a Galaxy S5, Apple had failed to disclose how messages could be blocked without deregistering from iMessage.
In court papers seen by Reuters, Apple argued that there was no law to protect customers who subjectively believed their tech hadn’t worked in the way they wanted.
Apple said:
Apple takes customer satisfaction extremely seriously, but the law does not provide a remedy when, as here, technology does not simply function as a plaintiff subjectively believes it should.
However, US District Judge Lucy Koh argued that a “Plaintiff does not have to allege an absolute right to receive every text message in order to allege that Apple’s intentional acts have caused an actual breach or disruption of the contractual relationship.”
The damages being sought by Moore are yet to be specified.