After a German court ruling earlier this month that deemed Apple’s push email services for iCloud (and MobileMe) infringe upon a Motorola patent, the Cupertino company has been forced to disable the service in Germany.
Those with an iCloud account within Germany will no longer have their emails pushed to their device, so they’ll need to open up the Mail account and fetch them manually from now on, or set up automatic fetching periodically.
Contacts and calendar syncing will continue to work, however, and so will third-party email services from the likes of Google.
Apple believes the patent is “invalid” and it is currently appealing the decision, but it seems it has continued to halt push email for the time being as a precautionary measure. In a statement to Engadget, the company said:
This ruling only impacts customers in Germany who use a Push setting to get their MobileMe and iCloud email. These customers will still receive email to their devices. Apple believes this patent is invalid and is appealing the decision.
Apple has provided German customers with a support document detailing the issue on its website.
Those who visit Germany will automatically see push email services for iCloud stopped as soon as they enter the country. But it will be restored again once they leave.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
10 responses to “Apple Disables iCloud Push Email Services In Germany Following Motorola Patent Dispute”
Ha Ha. How’s it taste Cupertino?
Hate to sound like a broken record but Apple’s ‘nuclear’ litigation strategy will invaraibliy result in painful stalemates or if they’re playing poker, I’ll see your patent and raise you two more. The winners are the lawyers and the losers are the consumers that aren’t able to use the promised services and features.
Apple: you just got Moto-steam-rolled
It tastes like this: http://www.google.ca/finance?c…
I submitted feedback (for all the good it will do) saying that they should’ve licensed exchange/activesync for their email, calendar and contacts. You wouldn’t have an issue like this and I firmly believe you’ll have a better performing MobileMe/iCloud email, calendar and contact services.
If not for Google, Motorola would be bankrupt. I don’t think Apple is all that concerned. It is likely that Apple will simply license push technology from Microsoft, incorporating it into iOS6, and be done with this silliness.
If not for Google, Motorola would be bankrupt. I don’t think Apple is all that concerned. It is likely that Apple will simply license push technology from Microsoft, incorporating it into iOS6, and be done with this silliness.
fandroid behaving childish, trolling an Apple website. Typical. What is surprising is that you are a father. You’re certainly setting a wonderful example for your child.
Not yet they’re not. Time will tell.
hey thanks for stalking me, always nice to be admired.