It's very disappointing to see how Apple has not handled the multiple Apple ID issue. An Apple ID is the email address you use as a login for just about everything you do with Apple, including using iCloud to store your content, buying songs from the iTunes Store, and downloading apps from the App Store.

As you have probably discovered if you've tried to move from MobileMe to iCloud, if you have more than one Apple ID, you should be very, very, very careful. As an example, I couldn't find how to change the Apple ID that is on my iOS device. So if you put the wrong one in, it will not be part of your other devices' eco-system.

In September, it seemed Apple was working on a solution to allow users to merge multiple Apple IDs into one. The news came from a phone call from Apple's executive relations team saying that they were aware of the issue and seemingly working on it, as noted by "MacRumors" (http://www.macrumors.com).

When iCloud launched, it was hoped that the problem would be fixed. But that's not the case. Apple is simply pointing users to a support document (http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4895) outlining your options for managing multiple Apple IDs. Unfortunately, merging Apple IDs isn't not one of the options.

Here's what Apple says, in part: "When you set up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you use the same Apple ID for iCloud services and purchases on the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore. You can, however, use one Apple ID for iCloud services and another Apple ID for store purchases (including iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match). You will get all the benefits of iCloud whether you use the same Apple ID for iCloud and store purchases, or different IDs for each."

However, there's really no need to have multiple Apple IDs. It's confusing for the customer and, you would think, for Apple. Merging of IDs is needed, so, c'mon, Apple, let's find a fix.

-- Dennis Sellers