Mail Does Not Connect and Receive

Question

Level 1

14 points

Mail Does Not Connect and Receive

All - I live in New York City and have a new iPhone 3G with the latest 2.0.2 update. I have three Pop accounts set up on it (including a Gmail account, a Verizon.net account and a personal pop account) and I have it set to check them every 15 minutes. For the first week I had the phone, it grabbed mail perfectly. Now it does not receive e-mail either automatically or manually (when I manually try to refresh, it just churns and churns and doesn't fetch my mail). I have not changed any settings since initial setup.

Note that the phone does update my e-mail when I restart it, but after that it just starts failing again (in other words, the only time I get new mail is when I restart the phone). This happens in all modes of access -- Edge, 3G and Wifi. Does anyone have any ideas of what could be happening?

iphone 3G

Posted on Aug 20, 2008 1:59 PM

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Answer 1

atboch

Level 1

0 points

Aug 20, 2008 2:09 PM in response to Matt Unger

I am having the same exact problem with all of my mail--road runner, gmail, aol, yahoo. Every one does exactly what you're describing above. This started for me as soon as I upgraded my firmware to 2.0.1 and continues with 2.0.2. Any suggestions anyone might have would be greatly appreciated.

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Answer 2

Nathan C

Level 5

6,260 points

Aug 20, 2008 2:13 PM in response to Matt Unger

Matt Unger,

This happens with POP3 accounts from time to time. This article will be updated when more information is available, but presents a work around that doesn't require restarting the iPhone:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2032

I would recommend waiting a few minutes before reopening Mail after closing as outlined in the article.

Hope this helps,

Nathan C.

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Answer 3

Matt Unger Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 20, 2008 2:22 PM in response to Nathan C

Nathan: Thanks for your reply. I'm glad there's a workaround that doesn't involve shutting down the phone. However, the article you pointed me to says that the cause is usually the e-mail provider. Note that this happens with all my accounts, all of which are quite different -- one is from Verizon, one from Gmail, and one from a Pop Account hosted by ReadyHosting -- and none of which have had outages when my phone doesn't connect to them (i.e. I've checked my e-mail through my computer and see that I have new mail even though the phone won't connect). Do you have any other thoughts?

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Answer 4

Vio123

Level 1

15 points

Aug 20, 2008 2:36 PM in response to Matt Unger

This was not an issue on the original. I do not understand how a new version of the iPhone OS can suddenly make every POP mail provider all of sudden have a bug. Not trying to be mean or nasty but I am getting frustrated with what seems like a discarding of the issue. I would rather get a response that your looking into a more permanent solution or investing the issue further than what can basically be translated as a "not our problem"

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Answer 5

Nathan C

Level 5

6,260 points

Aug 20, 2008 3:19 PM in response to Matt Unger

Matt Unger,

It appears to happen with some POP3 accounts, but not all.

However, once it occurs with one account configured on the iPhone, it affects all accounts configured until the connection is reset.

Hope this helps,

Nathan C.

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Answer 6

dklane

Level 1

0 points

Aug 20, 2008 4:14 PM in response to Matt Unger

Same exact issue. It did not start until upgrade to 2.0.1 and has persisted with 2.0.2. Obviously, there is some code that is bad and needs to be fixed and I hope that Apple is working on this issue.

The work around works some of the time but not 100%. Lag also seems to be an issue when switching between accounts. Would be nice to have icons to enable fast switching between accounts rather than backing out of one account and then going into another....too many taps IMO.

Having been an Apple customer since the Apple IIe days (gawd I'm old) the iPhone 3G has been the least "Apple like" product experience ever. Rather disappointing.

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Answer 7

Matt Unger Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 20, 2008 4:21 PM in response to Nathan C

Nathan:

Well, your answer helps slightly because you've confirmed that there's a real problem and that Apple has spotted it, though there doesn't seem to be anything to do about it but restart the mail app several times a day. Unfortunately, that basically renders the mail feature of the iPhone useless, since the whole idea of having mobile mail is to get notified when you get new mail and not when you remember to restart your app.

Anyway, I appreciate your replies. Sounds like there's a genuine bug out there and my phone's got it. Hopefully Apple will release a fix soon.

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Answer 8

Matt Unger Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 20, 2008 4:26 PM in response to dklane

Agreed, I'm an Apple II Plus guy myself. In general I think the iPhone is a great device as designed, but Apple products shouldn't frustrate you daily.

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Answer 9

CalVespa

Level 1

0 points

Aug 20, 2008 4:42 PM in response to Matt Unger

Same here. My ISP account, Gmail, two different client email accounts - behavior all the same on WiFi connection, just a spinning 'checking for mail' wheel indefinitely.

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Answer 10

Aug 29, 2008 9:03 AM in response to CalVespa

So annoying. this wasn't happening before the last software upgrade. the interim fix that was mentioned did work (holding the home button for 6 seconds then relaunching mail).

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Answer 11

Aug 29, 2008 9:48 AM in response to Matt Unger

I really wish I could help you but I am having the same problem with my original IPhone. It worked fine since I got it last year but it started to fail after the 2.0 update. I have spoken with support and we tried everything to get it to work. They suggested I go to the Apple store and speak with an Apple Genius. I went to the Apple store and spoke with a Genius and it worked for a day or two, stopped working, started working again and today it didn't pick up anything until I restarted the phone. Is this an ATT problem or Apple problem? Do we need to start the day with a reset?

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Answer 12

Aug 30, 2008 6:46 AM in response to Matt Unger

Thanks for the thread Nathan. Was having same problem and had posted earlier this morning. This solved my problem for accessing Comcast account in Augusta, Ga.

Hopefully others will find this as I've been google whacking, restoring, resetting network settings for three days on a new iPhone 3G.

Of to check setting at the local WiFi Hotspot.

Dennis
Augusta, Ga.

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Answer 13

Nathan C

Level 5

6,260 points

Aug 30, 2008 7:09 AM in response to Matt Unger

Matt Unger,

For reference this article is now published, and will be updated as more information or a better resolution is available:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2032

Thank you,

Nathan C.

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Answer 14

Aug 30, 2008 1:23 PM in response to Matt Unger

I was fine with 2.0.1, but mail got wonky with 2.0.2 to the point where it only works with wifi. I've restored, rebuilt the account, tried different accounts, etc., yet mail will not work on edge. Color me frustrated. Email is a big element of my iPhone experience, and I've brow beat a whole bunch of people into buying one. I hope Apple sorts this out soon.

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Answer 15

Aug 30, 2008 6:47 PM in response to Nathan C

Thank you nathan for the work around. the genuis at the apple store had no solutions for me and I have been frustrated by this for 3 days...

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