Android bug that sends SMS messages to random recipients is being ignored by Google

I’ve had this problem a few times on my Droid 1. Hasn’t happened yet on my Droid x tho

You guys are so over stating the issue. And making it sound a lot more wide spread then it is. The simple fact most of the bug reports on this issue are worthless or contradict each other. Yes it is bad when it happens but having used Android for some time now and knowing a lot of people on various devices and no one has ever ever had this issue. And I personally send 5-6 thousand texts a month. That is around 66,000 text messages in the last year without issues

agreed..

I use google voice for texting, so I haven’t had this issue with text, but I DID have this issue a couple of times when making outgoing calls – it would dial a different number instead of the one I tapped.

A little concern I have about Android is that system updates must go through the device manufacturer and/or carrier before it gets pushed out, unlike Windows or iPhone where patches get pushed out quickly.

This definitely happened to me multiple times, and it happens when calling too….it’s really annoying…I actually got pissed at my brother because I thought I called him and he was pretending to be somebody else….only to find one that my phone dialed somebody else that I never call. I’m glad I didn’t say anything bad on the phone or messages…..

Sorry not trying to bash Android or anything but this is totally unacceptable. The fact that this does exist and not corrected bothers me. I know each OS has bugs but sending out SMS/MMS or anything like that should not have a bug and still not be fixed. My Wife and I are eligible for an upgrade on T-Mobile which I was looking at the MyTouch 4G. I consider myself a cell techie/cell junkie and can’t believe I didn’t read about this before. So until Google fixes this problem, I will not be upgrade to the MyTouch 4G. This would be my first Android device. I am hoping Google announces or addresses this issue at the CES. If not, then when my upgrade is possible, I will move on another device/OS.

I am not an apple fan by no means. From my side of the family, co-workers, and friends, they all upgraded to the iphone4. I laughed at them when they had the antenna gate problem. You know what, I can take someone telling me how to hold my phone as apposed to my text messages going to the wrong person.

never heard of this once, and I sell em for a living…

hrm haven’t had this problem

This is definitely a major bug, and I’m surprised Google isn’t taking it seriously. And while I love Android’s potential, this is just another bug in a long list of many. To this day, I still can’t send messages to multiple recipients without it failing, it randomly reboots, the copy/paste implementation is horrible and not consistent across all apps.

And these are issues that have been across three different Android handsets so it can’t be the hardware.

Is this only with the native SMS app? If so, doesn’t everyone use Handcent anyway? Never had an SMS go to the wrong recip *ever* with my D1 since Nov 2009.

this is a manufacturer specific issue. i have yet to hear of this on an htc phone. the motorola’s are the only ones i have ever heard of this happening on.

moreso… when running stock android on my droid 1 this was an issue. when running a rooted setup, with handcent, NEVER an issue.

In my opinion, its not ANDROID’s fault, its the manufacturers who feel the need to “enhance” the phone by jacking it up

This is ridiculous. This reminds of the iPhone antenna issue – blown out of proportion.

The bug is there but an internet poll with 30% of “readers” saying they’ve seen the issue first hand? Probably not. From what I understand the bug is tough to replicate, doesn’t always happen, and difficult to confirm.

Bottom line is it needs to be addressed by Google but at the same time, fanboys should stand down and let the grown ups, developers, take care of it.

I think Brett Favre just found his defense….

This is a non-existent issue. Tens of thousands of texts on a dozen devices says so. It’s user error plain and simple. The title of this article is ridiculously misleading.

Don’t use the standard messaging app then… easy fix. Use Handcent SMS, much better app anyways, I don’t know many people who actual use the core messaging app. You’re stupid if you do.

It amazes me how quickly people dismiss a company’s error. I killed and still kill Apple for telling users how to hold a phone. Its Stupid and ridiculous. Now Google has ignored the SMS problem and has not addressed it. Google is now stupid and ridiculous. Sorry but to me users who advise to use another text app, is not the answer. Yes it will solve the wrong text problem,.but to me that’s not the point. Ignoring a problem, will not go away. I have no preference to any OS/Manufacturer. I am glad to read that there are a few users on these comments who have not experienced it.

Hate to be a pessimist but this issue will probably not get fixed. As long as there are 3rd party SMS apps, google will ignore the problem. Tell users to get a 3rd party app. Just like Steve Jobs telling users, “well don’t hold the phone that way”. Thanks Dickheads!! (Both Google and Apple). I am glad I talked 4 family members out of buying an Android. Told them about this and they passed. 3 of them were to get the Droid X, 1 HTC Indcredible

I think the problem is not with sms specifically but with contact sync. What has happened to me in the past is that somehow the wrong name got associated with a number. So I’ve answered my phone thinking it was one person, when it turned out to be another. Or I got a text from someone, and it turned out to be someone else. These have been rare and, thus far, benign, but it certainly could be a serious problem. It’s been solved (after the fact) by going into the contact and deleting the second number (which belonged to a different contact altogether and shouldn’t have been there), but really it shouldn’t be happening.

Isn’t that how Tiger got caught???

P.S. Moderator approved comment system for registered disqus users (or anyone other than anon) may be one reason comments fell off.
(Hmm, I must have typed somthing in my first comment that triggered ‘moderator approval’)

I have had this happen to my a couple times over last year and 2 month. Happened more on my moto droid then on my incredible.

There is no critical Android SMS messaging bug, most of the incidents were user error. The reason it was marked as moderate is because no one at Google could reproduce the bug. But hey it makes for great headlines right?