Signal-ios: Can only call (not text) until +44 prefix added to contact's phone number.

[s0]

This was a friend's phone, not mine, so I have been unable to investigate fully, but this is roughly what we experienced (and it certainly feels like a blocker for UK users of signal).

It was also mentioned on the mailing list recently, and it seems others are having problems: https://lists.riseup.net/www/arc/whispersystems/2016-01/msg00070.html

1. I am listed as a contact on phone with number 07904 XXXXXX
2. Signal installed and setup as usual.
3. 3 contacts listed, all with grayed-out name, but the "call" button seems active (did not test).
4. Edit my contact details, change number from 07904 XXXXXX to +44 7904 XXXXXX
5. Go back to signal, my name becomes not grayed out, and we can text (other 2 remain grayed out).

Potentially similar to #786 and #766, but not identical so I thought it worthwhile to open another issue.

[mikeokner]

I'm in the US and have a significant number of contacts on my list who are greyed out but the call button also still appears active.

After reading this issue, I tried editing the phone numbers of these contacts to begin with a "+1", however there was no change.

[riyapenn]

Check the permissions: http://support.whispersystems.org/hc/en-us/articles/213133077-What-settings-or-permissions-do-I-need-to-enable-on-my-iPhone-

See support page: http://support.whispersystems.org/hc/en-us/articles/212743488-Why-are-my-contacts-different-colors-in-my-contact-list-

Contact [email protected]

[mikeokner]

Thanks for the links @riyapenn. Unfortunately, I believe the issue is a software bug and not just a support issue. I contacted one of the people on my contacts list who is greyed out and they said they have an Android phone _without_ Signal, RedPhone, or TextSecure installed, nor had they ever registered their number in the past.

After learning this, I tried tapping the phone icon to see what would happen and wound up with an error message "Number is not registered with Si..."

[wolfteeth]

I am also seeing the issue described above. Some North American contacts did not have a +1 before the phone number and they appeared in gray with an active blue phone icon. Some of these contacts are not even mobile lines and are definitely not Signal users.

I have tried updating my contacts' phone numbers to include the +1, pulling down on the Signal contacts list to refresh, unregistering/reregistering with Signal, and uninstalling/reinstalling the app. My iPhone has plenty of free memory, I am on WiFi. At a loss for how to get an accurate list of Signal contacts.

[michaelkirk]

@wolfteeth, @samlanning, @mikeokner Would any of you be willing to verify this behavior with the latest Beta?

[s0]

@michaelkirk: unfortunately i was only able to report this due to testing a friend's phone, not my own. I'll defer to others to test.

[wolfteeth]

@michaelkirk I'm willing to give it a shot. I sent in a request for beta access.

[wolfteeth]

@michaelkirk I have just tested the beta on my device. For me, this version appears to resolve the issue. I am no longer seeing the greyed out contacts, only contacts I know for a fact have Signal on their device.

[michaelkirk]

Closing as this should have been resolved with 2.2 release. 🎉