iCloud Mail is down again

Even without this hassle going on it's worth having a spare account such as a GMail one - at least you would be able to send messages out, but of course you'd have to ask people to respond to the GMail account temporarily.

I'm switching all my private email over to my secondary account as this is the second time I've been let down by Apple. Odd that the rest of iCloud isn't affected. This is not the Apple I have prosletysed about since buying my first mac back in 1985.

Much lost kudos with this user.

As bad as this may seem to some, I am at least relieved that it isn't my iPad that is screwed up. It is unfortunate that these things happen, but in the larger picture, I can't recall this happening in this year at least.

What would be helpful would be something like a warning message etc. to their troubleshooting sites telling people that this is happening. I am more upset about trying to fix this on my own, and wasting the last 2 hours. Had I known this was happening, I would have just had a cup of coffee and waited for it to be resolved.

Apple do have an announcement at http://www.apple.com/support/icloud/systemstatus/ , though it's hardly 'in your face'.

I just spoke on the phone to Customer Service. They said that the problem is at the "server level" and "engineering level," and that they are working on it. The guy I spoke to said that half the calls he's getting today are about iCloud mail not working. And then he just basically read me what it says on the system status page:

http://www.apple.com/support/icloud/systemstatus/

Hear hear. As much as I hate doing it, I'm migrating to Gmail. Apple's failures with their server side services have been absolutely bush league, and their corporate policy of saying nothing is unacceptable. Apple FAILS.

I too have have 2 days of iCloud downtime here in the UK, however I was lucky enough to set my email up in a way that allowed me to still receive emails during this period. Otherwise I would be looking at large losses for my business like some of you.

I thought I would share this method of keeping full control of your email for those interested, this applies whether you are using iCloud, GMail, or any other email provider.

The first, and most important point, NEVER use your assigned iCloud email address as the public facing email address. Buy a domain name and have it forward all emails to iCloud (or another provider).

For example, let's say you have a company called Jims Doodadas, buy the domain jimsdoodadas.com, and using a web host or email hosting service, setup an email address jim@jimdoodada that forwards all emails to your iCloud account jimdoodada@me.com. So now you have:

jim@jimsdoodadas.com -> Email forwarding service -> iCloud

Now, if iCloud fails, you edit the forwarding rule in your email forwarding service to redirect to another email, let's say jimdoodada@gmail.com, and immediately you will continue receiving your email. There is always a chance your web host or email forwarding service could fail, well no problem, in that case since you own the domain you can always point it at a different mail service (edit the MX DNS record).

jim@jimsdoodadas.com -> Email forwarding service -> Gmail

jim@jimsdoodadas.com -> Email forwarding service -> whatever you want

The point is, this way you OWN your email address and are not locked in and reliant on one company's service. You can switch whenever you want.

@AlanJones

Sound advice. My business mail is on a separate server and is forwarded to my apple account.

down as well

Oregon,day3,no mail.simply frustrating! Amazing that Apple posts nothing about the problem,and the potential "fix".Don't get me wrong here,I am an Apple guy,always will be,but some type of communication to its customers would be appreciated,and the professional thing to do.

Current

iCloud: Mail & Notes - Users Affected: 1.1% - Next Update: 09/12/2012 12:00 PDT

Not exactly the info people want!

I'm getting some mail now but I have no clue if it is current mail or mail that was sent yesterday and is just now going through. Called support and they said that its been repaired but that for things to "catch up" it could take another few hours. Just wanted to give an update. Hang tight lol

I am just now after 36 hours beginning to get dribs and drabs of emails from yesterday. Mail is dribbling in but at least it is moving. If you have not called APPLE SUPPORT at least three times and opened a case number, then please do so. Corporate needs to know. My time on the phone with the nice but clueless people at Apple for the last multiple hours has been a total drain on the rest of my life, but it had to be done.

What host company do you recommend? Thanks for the good info.

I'm bummed. I got a dribble of old mail coming through, and now...nothing...again.