If you're still being plagued by missing text messages after leaving iOS for another platform, then the time has come to rejoice. Apple has quietly launched a tool that will let you deregister your phone number from iMessage and solve your texting problem once and for all. The root of this mess comes from Apple routing incoming messages from iPhone users through its iMessage system -- even after you've switched to a different phone. The result has been texts from iPhone users disappearing into the ether. If you forgot to disable iMessage before switching devices, often the only solution was to completely disconnect the device from your Apple account. Now all you have to do is plug your phone number into Apple's deregistration site, and punch in the verification code sent to you.

Update: This post has been update to clarify that traditional SMS messages are not routed through the iMessage servers.