Apple: MobileMe email down for 5 days, no ETA for fix
updated 12:25 am EDT, Thu July 24, 2008
MobileMe email issues
Apple has acknowledged the continuing MobileMe outages for some users and confirmed that the previously reported (and still ongoing) email outage is due to problems with its mail servers. Last week, a third wave of issues with MobileMe surfaced with Apple's email, sync, and web-based internet service offering. The scope, which Apple still claims is very limited, appeared to affect both US and international users, severely limiting users' access to email access via the Web and via email software. Users report that account access is intermittent at times, but for many the service has been completely out.
In a tech note posted to its support website, the company said it experienced a "serious" issues one of its MobileMe mail servers on Friday, July 18 and that the issue still remains unresolved, but that it was working diligently to restore service.
"This issue is currently affecting approximately 1% of MobileMe members. Affected members are unable to send or receive email at www.me.com or access email using any email client software such as Mail on a Mac or Microsoft Outlook on a PC...We understand this is a serious issue and apologize for this service interruption. We are working hard to restore your service."
Customers, however, continue to be surprised at the number of issues and severity of the current outage given the high-profile launch and marketing of the service (including recently launched rebates). In addition to the launch issues -- persisting beyond the initial few days -- and scheduled maintenance that affected mail, the continuing issues have left some wondering whether Apple has the expertise to provide such a service.
"I can't believe that Apple can't either fix the problem or get someone to fix it. It's been more than 4 days and certainly I won't be relying on them to deliver any type of mission critical email," one user wrote in an email to MacNN. "Four days is a long time and this second round of issues is completely ridiculous. Apple is a hardware and software company, not an internet company. Why don't they just outsource some of this to others who are better?"
Last week, Apple acknowledged problems with the MobileMe launch with an apology and and free a 30-day extension to all users as a result of the launch issues and the continuing frustrations with access.
The company even pulled back on its "push" email marketing and "Exchange for the rest of us" marketing, as many claimed the service was not delivering the features promised by Apple.
amateur week may turn...
07/24, 12:36am reply
Amateur hour turned into
day
week
and maybe month.
What a joke.
Paul Huang
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 1999
Hu?
07/24, 01:30am reply
"Apple is a hardware and software company, not an internet company"
Ah.... what rock have you been under??
MyRightEye
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2008
Ummm...
07/24, 01:42am reply
You have to be CRAZY to consider using MobileMe for anything you or your company considers "mission critical". For it's entire life, dotMac was plagued with unplanned outages.
Even if you get Apple a pass on having a poor transition from dotMac to MobileMe, if you consider Apple's track record for dotMac, you have to wait until Apple proves that MobileMe is solid and reliable before you could begin to consider buying into MobileMe.
What exactly is the point of instantaneous push when the service is down for hours or days at a time?
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
not an internet company
07/24, 04:46am reply
I'm apparently in the 1% category. Phoenix, AZ.
It only makes it worse because the phone service S U U C K S. The dropping of voice calls is so bad, it's easier to just text conversation.
I have an appointment to replace my iPhone. This is just not typical of anything I've ever had from Apple, Inc.
dmsimmer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2005
Join the 1%
07/24, 05:26am reply
I haven't received .me e-mail in over a week. My calendar blanked when I turned on push calendaring and the server hasn't pushed anything to me yet.
I've used Apple products for 23 years and I've never seen anything bungled like this from them.
loudpedal
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 1999
The other 99%
07/24, 06:59am reply
I guess my fiancee and I are in the 99% bracket, as all of the MobileMe services have worked fine from day one on both our 3G phones. I did have a small problem syncing contacts initially but after restoring the iPhone firmware and reloading from a backup, all has gone well. And mail has always worked just as advertised. In fact, if I send an email to my phone it is received by the phone before I can even get it out of my pocket.
wings_rfs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2002
Re: the other 99%
07/24, 09:18am (1 reply) reply
Technically, yours didn't work from day one. More like from day 3. Since it was down for day 1 and day 2.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
1% is a sizable chunk
07/24, 09:42am reply
this is what happens when a hardware company enters the tricky web software realm. no as easy as they thought eh? im happy i was never taken in the hyper and chose a MUCH BETTER messaging solution in HyperOffice.
pankaj2008
Baninated
Joined: Jul 2008
Bad transition
07/24, 11:12am reply
Apple should have left .Mac alone and brought up mobile me separately. Once it was working THEN they can transition users over.
For new customers signing up for a service, they can more easily wait a few days to start using the service. For those that use it regularly already a multi day disruption is an outrage.
I feel for those that are now actually losing data because of this mess!!
bjojade
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2007
Hurm
07/24, 12:28pm reply
So how's everyone enjoying their Vista... urm, I mean MobileMe experience? Lol, I like the whole iWeb upload thing but it went out on me last night.
manleycreative
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2005