iMessage system operating again

Apple's popular iMessage service has been restored following a 24-hour interruption.

DUBAI // Apple's free iMessage texting service on du and Etisalat iPhones has been restored following an interruption that lasted about 24 hours.

The service, which is similar to the BlackBerry Messenger system, allows text messaging between iPhones and iPads that have the latest iOS 5 software update.

On Saturday, Etisalat said via its Twitter feed that the service had been suspended because it was being reviewed by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

"The iMessage service has been restored," the Etisalat's Twitter account said on Sunday evening. "Apologies for the disruption. Have a good night dear customers."

Du also confirmed that the service was back up and running again.

The ban on iMessage, which was imposed without warning, was first reported late on Saturday. Neither operator elaborated on the reason behind the suspension.

Consumers welcomed the restoration, saying they had been frustrated while unable to use the service.

"I was really annoyed when the system went off because I had been using it to text friends back home," said James Williams, a UK national living in Dubai.

"Initially, I thought it would be the same situation as we had with BBM," Samreen Khan, from India, referring to a four-day fault in BlackBerry service that hit millions of users. "But I'm glad it's been resolved so quickly."