Send Later Messages iOS 18 doesn't work with non-iPhones?

Just got iOS 18 (on an iPhone 15 Pro) and what I'm seeing is that if I set a Message to "Send Later" and then in the To: field put in the name of someone in my Contacts whose number is labeled "mobile" (green texts), the Send Later indicators disappear and I can only send it immediately.


If I put in the person's name first, the Send Later option isn't even available.


Anyone else able to duplicate this?

iPhone 15 Pro

Posted on Sep 20, 2024 7:47 AM

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Posted on Dec 15, 2024 6:43 PM

I am very frustrated that I FINALLY transitioned from a lifetime with Android (Samsung) to iPhone 16 and the ONE thing I rely upon for my business (and also personal, really, but especially business) is not available: I schedule messages to send a later date ALL THE TIME because I have a large client list and I cannot text patients late at night when I often am scheduling or billing. Now because Apple has not allowed integration of this capacity with Android users, it will negatively impact how I communicate with patients and run my business. This is highly disappointing and quite frankly likely enough to send me back to Android, where I can ' schedule send' to my heart's content to whomsoever I choose. Please fix this, Apple, this is tribal BS and it's not cool.

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Dec 15, 2024 6:43 PM in response to cordchanger

I am very frustrated that I FINALLY transitioned from a lifetime with Android (Samsung) to iPhone 16 and the ONE thing I rely upon for my business (and also personal, really, but especially business) is not available: I schedule messages to send a later date ALL THE TIME because I have a large client list and I cannot text patients late at night when I often am scheduling or billing. Now because Apple has not allowed integration of this capacity with Android users, it will negatively impact how I communicate with patients and run my business. This is highly disappointing and quite frankly likely enough to send me back to Android, where I can ' schedule send' to my heart's content to whomsoever I choose. Please fix this, Apple, this is tribal BS and it's not cool.

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Oct 8, 2024 5:59 PM in response to AlWeir

I agree with TheWho515. This is really pretty unbelievable. Apple intentionally doesn’t play nice with Android. They enabled RCS messaging because they literally got sued by a CONTINENT and yet they still won’t integrate a send later feature to their messenger? This is my largest gripe with Apple at this time. AlWeir, thanks for the workaround, but it’s a 12 step process? And, I even tested it a month ago and the messages failed to send. As in, the shortcuts app no longer works properly. It’s just an embarrassment. Apple finds ways to be the most profitable company in the world and they design the most refined phones, and yet they can’t integrate a send later feature when messaging Android users? I don’t buy it. Please add this feature Apple. It doesn’t seem like it would be that complicated and you would be providing a service to your customer base. We shouldn’t have to wait until another slow year of updates for you to “unvault” this seemingly simple feature. Thanks in advance.

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Nov 11, 2024 10:45 AM in response to TheWho515

I brought this up with a chat agent on the support pages. I pointed out that the iPhone User Guide, describing the Send Later feature, says "Your recipient can use any device, and they won’t know that the message was scheduled." (Schedule a message on iPhone to send later - Apple Support )


After the usual BS about upgrading from 18.0.1 to 18.1, etc failed to change the behavior, the agent finally said:

"I have checked with my resources and I would like to inform you that, the iMessage is a feature specifically built for only apple devices. And the iMessage send later feature is only available for iOS devices. ("Your recipient can use any device, and they won’t know that the message was scheduled") this means only apple devices like iPhone, iPad, Mac. If the other user/recipient is an android user, they won't be able to use the feature from your end also."


So, yeah, it's yet another example of Apple giving the middle finger to the standards-based, interoperable rest of the world. "You're either with us or against us."


Evil.


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Nov 11, 2024 1:08 PM in response to Moose702

See, the language there doesn't make any sense at all. Because right before the section where it says the recipient can use any device, they just went through and enumerated all the Apple devices the sender can use. Why not just cut and paste that same list for the recipient and take out the iOS18 requirement. That seems like the only difference.


My last post here. Apple will probably delete it.


By the way, I'm a recent convert from Android and I'm all in on the Apple ecosystem. We all like to complain about petty decisions Apple makes, and shortcomings with their products. But I'm not going back to Android or Windows. This is frustrating, but I'm still better off putting up with the minor frustrations. I'm sure that is true for most of those saying they're going back to Android. They know it. Apple knows it. Game, set, match.

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Nov 1, 2024 12:40 PM in response to nbscinta

It's quite unfortunate that the Messages app is listed in the app store yet has never received or is incapable of receiving updates that way. The app is tied to the OS so deeply that we can't get features like this added even if they wanted to between OS updates. This feature works on non-iphones even without RCS on, and what about those people with iphones but no data plan, they can't use the feature either.


Something I found on Reddit today


[Edited by Moderator]

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Send Later Messages iOS 18 doesn't work with non-iPhones?

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