mobile phone

Most Gmail users were unable to get to their accounts on Tuesday struck off as a Google e-mail service. Google said services returned to normal around 2:40 pm PDT for most users.

"We are aware of this issue with Google Mail affect most users. Affected users have no access to Google Mail" Google said at 12:53 pm PDT Google on the status bar service after found out the problem.

However, a few hours later, the problems have persisted for many, and it was abuzz Twittersphere colic.

The problems seem to affect the web version of the service, but the affected accounts can be achieved - at least from time to time - with the help of a third party e-mail software that uses IMAP, or Internet Message Access Protocol, interface. Google detailed instructions on how to do it here.

Gmail uses tens of millions of people, and its rapid growth made it past AOL e-mail service in the third place, according to ComScore.

Google did not immediately comment on the extent and causes of its filing. This is not the first to disable Gmail this year.

Customers Apps Google, which paid $ 50 per user per year, to obtain an extension of their service contracts, if their services are down more than a certain period. Dashboard showed only mail to the problem, not the other services Google, such as Calendar Google, Google Talk and Google.

Outages are causing problems for Google, as he tries to convince companies to buy into its vision of cloud computing, in which applications hosted on the Internet, rather than on corporate computers. However, Google claims that its access to services is competitive in comparison with those of most organizations to manage their own email servers.

Updated at 1:50 PM PDT: Some users have reported that access to their accounts Gmail iGoogle home page, but this does not work for all, we briefly surveyed in the office, and it seemed from time to time in a manner accessible to others. Google said that "to provide updates on Sept. 1, 2009, 2:16:00 PM UTC-7 (PDT), which details when we can solve the problem" on their Services page status.

Updated at 1:58 PM PDT: What is the extent of the outage? Please let us know if you're down, and where you are in the comments below.

Update 2:03 pm PDT: Google apologized for the trip on the blog Gmail, but also stated that the problem affects companies in the country.

"We know that many of you are having trouble accessing Gmail right now - we, too, and we definitely feel your pain. We do not normally post about minor issues here (Dashboard Service status and resource center, where, as a rule, this kind of information is). Because it is influenced by many of you, we want you to know that we are currently studying the problem and hope to get more information here shortly. "

Update 2:20 pm PDT: Google still does not know what happened, according to the latest update Dashboard Service status. "We are continuing to investigate the matter. We will provide updates on Sept. 1, 2009, 3:13:00 PM UTC-7 More when we can solve the problem. In addition, the current Google Apps to synchronize Microsoft Outlook (only applies to Google Service and Edu customers) are not available.

Updated at 2:35 PM PDT: A Google spokesperson declined to elaborate on that is questionable, but the parties concerned have indicated to the toolbar status Apps and Gmail blog for updates, which the company hopes to release soon. Corporate users suffer Gmail using Google - a key set of customers, as Google hopes that business to grow - as well as individual users, he confirmed.

Some Gmail users are beginning to report the service back to them, but not all luck. Believe it or not, this reporter (Tom Krazit) has it running in one tab of Firefox and inaccessible to the other.

Update 2:44 pm PDT: Google has posted an updated version of its Service Status page for about a minute after we got off the phone with the company, saying all is well.

"The problem with Google Mail should be addressed. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience and continued support."

So what happened? We will try to find out.