Apple denies plans to build iOS-to-Android migration tool
Apple is not, in fact, working on a migration tool to help iPhone owners switch to Android, a spokesperson said on Monday, in a rare instance of the company commenting on rumors.
"There is no truth to this rumor," Trudy Muller explained to BuzzFeed News. "We are entirely focused on switching users from Android to iPhone, and that is going great."
The proposed tool would have carried over content like contacts, music, and photos.
The idea of Apple helping people migrate away from its products might seem paradoxical, but The Telegraph reported that this was being done at the behest of European phone carriers concerned that Apple's platform lock-in was preventing people from considering other devices. While many of Google's services can be easily accessed from an iPhone -- Apple already has an Android-to-iOS tool -- it can be harder to port settings and content in the opposite direction.
Another example of platform lock-in has been iMessage. By default iMessage links a user's phone number with their Apple ID, preferring the latter instead of sending via SMS. This can create a problem if a person switches to Android though, since messages from other iPhone owners will still go to the Apple ID instead of the number.
Apple was hit with ultimately doomed legal action over the problem. Eventually it decided to warn people to turn off iMessage before switching, and offer a web tool for delinking iMessage accounts.
"There is no truth to this rumor," Trudy Muller explained to BuzzFeed News. "We are entirely focused on switching users from Android to iPhone, and that is going great."
The proposed tool would have carried over content like contacts, music, and photos.
The idea of Apple helping people migrate away from its products might seem paradoxical, but The Telegraph reported that this was being done at the behest of European phone carriers concerned that Apple's platform lock-in was preventing people from considering other devices. While many of Google's services can be easily accessed from an iPhone -- Apple already has an Android-to-iOS tool -- it can be harder to port settings and content in the opposite direction.
Another example of platform lock-in has been iMessage. By default iMessage links a user's phone number with their Apple ID, preferring the latter instead of sending via SMS. This can create a problem if a person switches to Android though, since messages from other iPhone owners will still go to the Apple ID instead of the number.
Apple was hit with ultimately doomed legal action over the problem. Eventually it decided to warn people to turn off iMessage before switching, and offer a web tool for delinking iMessage accounts.
Comments
Was funny watching the Applelogists explain how it could be a good idea for Apple. hahaha
I assume the writer got this backwards?
So you have said about 8,653 times
Is not keeping your word something you do on a regular basis?
Maybe.
You never will understand Tim Cook unless you understand this: (1) he doesn't believe that persistently repeating himself (for example, regarding supply chain tea-leaf reading or China's economy bringing Apple down) will have enough staying power to live past the next FUD storm anyway, and (2) he fervently believes that in the long run, the best talking is done by the numbers. Everything else is just short term share price swings, large though they may be, and real investors can handle that.
It seems that Sog's position now is basically that Tim Cook lost his bet for him, so the bet should be forgotten along with the penalty. Sog was right and Tim Cook and the rest of us are wrong.
I think the same SMS issue exist going from Android to Iphone, I pretty sure your text message do not transfer over. Also saved game states or status or apps files which are stored locally do not come across. All that come over is contact and pictures. I am not even sure Music would come over since there is no way for Apple to know if it is legally licensed to the user or which online store it was bought from or if you ripped it from your own CD. Apple could be accused of helping people pirating.
It is not all that easy for Android users to switch between phones either, and gets harder with different software version and across manufacturers. If this was going to be forced onto Apple it would have to be forced on to everyone.
This was my largest complaint about Android, even time I got a new phone for work it was a two week process of getting the new phone to look as act like the old one. Contact and Calendar items switch over quickly since they were synced with Outlook and gmail at the time, but everything else was a pain. With Apple new phone, hooked to the computer and 20 minutes later the new phone was exactly like the old phone, no trying to figure out what if anything was missing. Apple has been this way since day one. I understand the latest Android makes this a little better but is still requires you backup to the google servers to get some of the data moved over.
At least with Apple you can save most everything to your computer and put it on a new phone even Android phone there are mac apps to back up and sync Android phones on the mac, it is not pretty, but I have used them.
He's just a bitter guy and can't accept he bet wrong.
It's simple, Apple doesn't care about the stock market because it is full of lazy ass fools wanting a free ride. Boo hoo for you.
What I don't understand is why YOU as a shareholder hasn't sued the analysts for spreading lies. Apple doesn't have to do YOUR dirty work you lazy freeloader.