The official ChatGPT app is now available via the Apple App Store in Malaysia. As you may recall, its developer OpenAI first launched the iOS version of its popular AI-powered chatbot in the US last month, which was gradually released for certain regions weeks after that. With its local arrival, users in the country can finally utilise ChatGPT’s offerings directly from their iPhones.
Well, except for iPhone users who are on U Mobile.
For some reason, the orange telco is the only mobile carrier in Malaysia that’s not supported by OpenAI’s phone number verification system, which is a mandatory step for new signups. This is something that I – a U Mobile user – can confirm, as well as several others who have been seeking a solution from the developer and other places online for several months now.
In order to use ChatGPT’s services via web or the mobile app, users are first required to sign in with their OpenAI account. This is pretty straightforward for existing users, whereas newcomers would obviously need to sign up to proceed. From here, they first are given the option to continue with either their Apple or Google accounts, or sign up with email. Once that’s done, newbies are then asked to key in their first and last name, as well as their birthdate. After this is where things get complicated for U Mobile users.
As you may have guessed, the next step is where OpenAI asks for your phone number. This is required, as the next step involves completing the registration process by inputting a code sent via SMS or WhatsApp. For this purpose, contact details associated with landlines, VoIP providers or Google Voice are unsupported due to security reasons, as noted by the company in its help page. Being a mobile telecommunications service provider, U Mobile is neither of these so we doubt this is the cause of the issue.
Based on my experience, attempting to submit my phone number, I was greeted with an error message saying “The carrier associated with this phone is not supported” or “We couldn’t verify your phone number”. This is then followed by a recommendation to contact the developer’s help centre on its website.
https://twitter.com/squasheddddd/status/1655460306313957376?s=20
But as mentioned earlier, contacting the support team would only lead to a dead end, with most complaints from users being left unresolved. Nevertheless, I have reached out to them to inquire further regarding the matter, and will provide an update if OpenAI does provide an explanation or a solution. As far as we know, those on service providers other than U Mobile have not reported encountering this particular issue. On that note, our writer Ikmal Rozlan was successful in registering and logging into the ChatGPT web and iOS app with his Maxis/Hotlink number.
Meanwhile, users on Android will have to wait a while longer, as OpenAI is still working on the platform’s version of its ChatGPT app. No release date was provided so far, but the company promises that it will be available “soon.”
(Source: OpenAI [Apple Store Malaysia] / Reddit / Lowyat.NET forum)
Additional photography by Ikmal Rozlan.
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