Activating iMessage & FaceTime on new iPhone

[wizbit-7]

On monday I swapped over from an iPhone XR to an iPhone 13. The transfer was seemless and when complete, swapped over my Sky Mobile SIM card. No problem.... Easy... so I thought.

I then realised my iMessages are be send via my registered email address and not my phone number. Looking at the settings for messages, the number was not listed. Selecting the option to change this, the number was listed but showing as verifying. It's been like this now for three days now.

Check the number is registered in the apple sign-in & secuity setting and it states this:

I can recieve phone callls, have internet acces. I don't get it. Things I've tried:

• Resetting Network
• Resetting everthing
• New eSIM
• Removing number from ID and re-adding it

Spoke to Apple, they say it's a carrier issue. Spoke to Sky, they say I need to speak to Apple. The only opton I have is to jump ship and go elsewhere (I'm out of contract).

Just thought I would ask here first.

[63johnw]

Hi @wizbit-7  have you checked settings, phone, my number and checked the correct 

number is stored there ? If not then update it then exit and rest your phone, it can take a lot of attempts to save. 

[Courtney34]

Please someone tell me how to fix this, I've spoken to 8 different sky people and everytimw they have been so rude! One made me delete everything of my phone and it still didn't work! I don't know how many times i have go tell them that my number is not associated with an apple device and they won't listen. I've had enough 

[wizbit-7]

It is correct and I have restarted it numerouse times. The number is also listed correctly in the iMessage setting, but it's stuck verifiying with the spinning wheel. It's been like this for nearly 72 hours now.

It's like it doesn't recognise the SIM with the same number is in it! Worked fine on the prevouse phone.

[63johnw]

Assuming you have tried this @wizbit-7 ?

Go to settings, message, send receive 

Tap on Apple ID and sign out. 
Turn iMessage off. 
Turn your phone off for at least 10 seconds

Go to settings, message, iMessage turn back on

Tap on send receive and sign in to Apple ID 

Make sure correct number showin in "start new conversations from"

[wizbit-7]

Yes. Did all that with Apple. We even went as for as completly erasing the phone and starting from scratch, but that made no differance either. Came back to the same issue. Thats when they suggested it was a carrier issue.

[63johnw]

Have you tried a replacement physical sim @wizbit-7 ?

[wizbit-7]

That's my next option, but to do this I'm going to take out a new contract with some one else. I don't have a spare.

I've just had enough of messing around...

[wizbit-7]

@Courtney34 It seems Sky have some major network issues at the moment, looking at other threads. Not sure if other networks are any better but I'm finding some good SIM only deals. If I manage to swap and get it working, I'll let you know.

[wizbit-7]

After 72 hours, I finaly got a notification that the varification failed. 

Last ditch atttempt to call Apple and Sky to get this resolved today and I will not be waiting another 72 hours by being told to turn off and on iMesaage in the settings.

Jjust to note - I was told by Sky on the phone yesterday to uninstall iMessage and re-install it from the store. My spirit instantly left my body...