You just need to add the Apple MX record to your current name server provider, and probably Apple will do it automatically for you. It's the same process today with O365 or Google.
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iCloud+ to Let iCloud Mail Users Personalize Their Email Domain Name
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You don’t get these features unless you pay a monthly fee for increased iCloud storage.
However, if I was going to do that, surely I'd just let them host the emails too? I don't see why I'd split it and have emails routed through Apple's servers when they can just stay with the www hosting. Maybe people would do this for perceived reliability? There have been more iCloud disruptions over the years than at my hosting provider. I've been lucky
Hmm ... having said that, my provider doesn't support push (and iOS has refused to support IDLE) so having fetch would be something useful.
I don't think it's about reliability for most people - the feature set and integration is probably a big point for those who want this.
Not available yet. I'm running Dev Beta 1 of iOS 15. I have the other iCloud+ features working, but this one seems to be coming later.
Good point. The more I think about it, the more I think people just want a "cool" email address or one where they can own <multiple_names>@mydomain.com without the hassle of dealing with a domain name registrar or a service/hosting provider.
Google Workspace (formerly GSuite) does this.
It's meant to be a corporate/workplace offering of the Google Apps/software platform and it's super cheap per person plus supports custom domains so I use it for the Google Drive and for the custom domain through Gmail even though it's massively overkill and I don't really need any of the administration and management tooling that's included.
I don't like using Google offerings much at all so if I'm able to drop Google Workspace and support my custom domain through Apple alongside iCloud+ for storage I'd most definitely prefer that.
Not unless Apple supports subdomains and virtual identities, which is why I've been paying for Fastmail for over a decade.
I currently have my email (and calendar and contacts) stored at Microsoft with a separate Outlook account on my iPhone for those things, and the only reason these things are not on iCloud is because I can't use my own personalised email address. So if I can move this stuff back to Apple that would be great.
For me it is not as much that my domain name is "cool", but rather that it not any company's trademark and it is portable (like a mobile phone number - at least in Europe).
I.e. I have changed email hosting provider a few times - my email address just follows me to the new provider and I can completely cut ties with the old one.
With an iCloud, Gmail, or Outlook address, you can setup forwarding as a work-around, but it isn't quite the same and you will remain dependant on Apple, Google, or Microsoft forever.
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I sure hope they allow you to just set the max record to apples server. I would not want apple to require full control of the domain as I’m sure they would never provide the full flexibility you get with a typical registrar for all the other DNS properties. Hopefully they offer a simple solution for people who want to register a new domain for their email (and maybe other iCloud services) as well as allow you to just point max records for an existing domain to apples servers.
You probably still need to deal with the registration/renewal yourself. I doubt they'll have registration services.
But yes, getting consistent good email features and security with your own domain is a huge win.
probably I joked I would use whitehouse.com (not even a gov site) and got 4 salty thumb downs.
You would, of course, need a domain name. Otherwise, how would the rest of the world be able to deliver mail to it? What isn't stated is which domain registrar Apple is going to partner with. I can't imagine trusting Apple to host an MX record, either.
It might be fun to play with, for a throwaway, but I'd never use iCloud for email I cared about.
I was thinking the same thing. I also have the two apple id's dilemma. This gets a lil confusing really.
I always cringe when I see a small business use a gmail address. Having your own domain gives a much more professional appearance and flexibility when it comes to choosing your email provider without having to change your address. It’s really not difficult or expensive to set up and should be a no brainer for any business no matter how small.Its a nice way for a custom branded email address for any small business, self-employed or any user of iCloud mails who may prefer a more professional looking email address than something like crazyFrog96877216387@icloud.com
This would save me $5 a month I'm currently paying for Office 365 Essentials that I use only for email.
Somehow I think everything you get from Fastmail for that price is worth considerably more than what would amount to simple email aliasing from Apple.
Hehe. Was just getting around to signing up for Fastmail for me and family. May press pause.
On the other hand, one big reason for a personal domain is to avoid getting locked into a single provider (cable co, google). Yet this is uncomfortably close to that. Sure, Apple won't be able to prevent changing to another email provider but it becomes just a little too convenient to leave your domain with them. And combine that with family sharing and it's even more lock in - not sure my daughter will want to stick with Apple forever too using daughter@lebigmac.com
It's unlikely Apple will have any involvement with the registration or DNS for this.
They'll ask you to set appropriate MX records at you existing DNS host (which is just the registrar for a lot of people).
I'm not sure what you mean about not trusting Apple, but if you're going to have your email sent there you have to trust them somewhat.
Over here it's businesses large and small, and government departments... using hotmail addresses.