Apple “may be blocking Push Notification Service” on hacked iPhones

Posted on 15 Jul 2009 at 10:09

The new push notification service for the iPhone does not work with hacked handsets, according to a developer of one app that uses the technology.

PoweryBase reports that around 5% of users of its NotifyMe app are using iPhones that have been hacked, presumably to enable them to run on unofficial mobile networks. This same 5% is generating 80% of support requests, claiming the application does not work as advertised.

The developer soon discovered that push notifications are not being set to hacked handsets.

“Further investigation shows that Apple may be blocking Push Notification Service on purpose to fight users who break carrier monthly plan agreements and unofficially unlocking these subsidized devices to work with other carriers which Apple is not partnered with,” said PoweryBase’s Dominik Balogh.

Pavel Serbajlo, PoweryBase's lead developer added that, “on a unofficially activated device, APNS [Apple Push Notification Server] keeps the application wait forever and does not provide any respond at all, keeping user wait infinitely or time out the connection, if the target application is capable of timing out."

Naturally, the company is now advising users of hacked iphones not to buy NotifyMe or any app that uses push notifications.

Apple introduced push notifications with the iPhone OS 3.0 software for both the phone and the iPod touch. It enables apps to receive information while they’re not running—you could be sent news headlines, tweets, reminders or sport scores for instance. It is Apple’s alternative to mulitasking, which it believes would place an unacceptable burden on the processor, memory and battery.

Author: Simon Aughton

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