Apple can push iOS email across German borders again

Apple switched on its push email services for iOS devices in Germany again after posting a bond of €100 million (US$135 million).

In February 2012, Apple was forced to switch off push email services for iOS devices in Germany after it lost a patent lawsuit brought by the now Google-owned Motorola Mobility.

Motorola decided to enforce an injunction granted by the Regional Court of Mannheim, meaning that users of iOS devices in Germany were only able to receive mail when they opened the Mail app, or when the app is set to check for email.

Apple appealed the case and on August 29, the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe, Mannheim’s appeal court, lifted the injunction in an interim decision, according to a Karlsruhe court spokesman.

Because the interim decision is not final, Apple had to post a bond of €100 million to lift the injunction and switch on push email for Germans, he said.

Apple apparently got round to posting the bond since iOS push email is available in Germany again since October 1, according to an Apple support note concerning the matter. “Customers in Germany can now receive push email delivery for iCloud, Yahoo!, AOL, QQ, and NetEase,” Apple said in the note.

The appeals court will now take a closer look at the matter in order to reach a final decision, the spokesman said.

Apple declined to comment.