Apple discontinues sale of MobileMe retail boxes as overhaul looms
Apple on Thursday removed the $99 MobileMe product from its online store and notified resellers that it has discontinued the retail box for its cloud-based syncing product, suggesting the company is prepared to launch a rumored overhaul of the service.
The MobileMe single license and family pack are no longer available on Apple's online store. In addition, resellers have indicated to AppleInsider that both the MobileMe Single User product (identified as MC660Z/A) and Family Pack (MC661Z/A) have been declared "End of Life" by Apple.
Users of MobileMe were also notified of scheduled maintenance for the me.com website. The service's Web-based applications may not be accessible to some users for about a half-hour tonight, after which normal service is expected to be restored.
The changes come as Apple is rumored to be revamping the MobileMe service, and is also said to be considering making the product free. The New York Times reported this month that Apple plans to turn MobileMe into a free service that would serve as a digital "locker" where users could store photos, music and videos.
Apple has been rumored to be pursuing a cloud-based iTunes service, particularly for music streaming, for years. The Times said that such a move would negate the need for a large amount of local storage on mobile devices like the iPhone.
And on Wednesday, Apple executives revealed at the company's annual shareholder meeting that its massive $1 billion data center in North Carolina is set to open this spring. The usually tight-lipped company also let slip that the data center will be used to support iTunes and MobileMe.
The MobileMe single license and family pack are no longer available on Apple's online store. In addition, resellers have indicated to AppleInsider that both the MobileMe Single User product (identified as MC660Z/A) and Family Pack (MC661Z/A) have been declared "End of Life" by Apple.
Users of MobileMe were also notified of scheduled maintenance for the me.com website. The service's Web-based applications may not be accessible to some users for about a half-hour tonight, after which normal service is expected to be restored.
The changes come as Apple is rumored to be revamping the MobileMe service, and is also said to be considering making the product free. The New York Times reported this month that Apple plans to turn MobileMe into a free service that would serve as a digital "locker" where users could store photos, music and videos.
Apple has been rumored to be pursuing a cloud-based iTunes service, particularly for music streaming, for years. The Times said that such a move would negate the need for a large amount of local storage on mobile devices like the iPhone.
And on Wednesday, Apple executives revealed at the company's annual shareholder meeting that its massive $1 billion data center in North Carolina is set to open this spring. The usually tight-lipped company also let slip that the data center will be used to support iTunes and MobileMe.
Comments
I just re-subscribed in January. Hopefully, Apple stays true to it's past and looks out for those with paid subscriptions. Will be watching these developments closely.
As a current paying member of MobileMe, I think it is great that Apple is going to revamp the service, and hopefully make it free. The Webapps, syncing, and Find My iPhone feature make it a much more compelling product, in my mind, than anything in the "free" market. But then again, I am one of those people who is willing to pay a premium for a premium product.
In any event, I can't wait to see what Apple has up its sleeve for the next version of MobileMe.
It should be free Mr. Jobs (can pay for other parts, but NOT the syncing)!
By the way, Happy Birthday
i just renewed in december. lol.
Ditto. And the family plan at that.
MobileMe is there to reinforce the halo effect.
Your iPhone, iPad and Mac all working in harmony(at least in theory).
Ditto. And the family plan at that.
It was November for me!
As a current paying member of MobileMe, I think it is great that Apple is going to revamp the service, and hopefully make it free. The Webapps, syncing, and Find My iPhone feature make it a much more compelling product, in my mind, than anything in the "free" market. But then again, I am one of those people who is willing to pay a premium for a premium product.
In any event, I can't wait to see what Apple has up its sleeve for the next version of MobileMe.
Likewise. I just hope that this revamp doesn't wreak havoc with my iCal and Address Book syncing like their previous updates did.
Interesting. Does this mean the service is going the free route? I'm a bit worried if it does. I don't want a Google set-up where ads are present and my personal information is sold for profit. I'd rather to pay to keep my personal information private.
I just re-subscribed in January. Hopefully, Apple stays true to it's past and looks out for those with paid subscriptions. Will be watching these developments closely.
If Apple makes MobileMe free, it won't be supported by ads or sales of your information. That is not Apple's way. They will instead view it as a value-added service that will recoup costs by enticing more buyers of the Apple products which use the service. In other words, Apple might believe that by making MobileMe free, they enhance the perceived value of their products, and they will sell more of them. I agree wholeheartedly.
Thompson
Maybe it will be similar to how the $99 iOS dev program got folded into the more expensive OS X dev program. You can still sign up for the advanced dev subscription if you want more features even though the base subscription is included for only $99 instead of the previous $500 plus the $99. No more t-shirts for you!
As long as MobileMe works at least as well as it does now I guess I can live with no charge. I just don't want to lose my account like with eWorld's demise.
i just renewed in december. lol.
I renewed my family plan a week ago...
But I don't expect the service to become entirely free. I expect an upgrade with improved features as well as a tiered service. Some free, others not. I also imagine the option of including iWork.com to be part of the package. Well... I hope it will but it probably won't
And on Wednesday, Apple executives revealed at the company's annual shareholder meeting that its massive $1 billion data center
Okay ... Take a deep breath and finish the thought ...
Ping could also move into the MobileMe space. Maybe even FaceTime so you could use it from any computer to take on Skype and Google more directly in that area.
More likely, Mobile Me will have two service levels: (as an example)
- 3 email addresses, 10GB storage, find my iPhone, syncing, and limited iTunes/Photo lockbox = FREE
- 6 email addresses, 50GB storage, find my iPhone, syncing, and massive iTunes/Photo lockbox = $99
Discuss....
If Apple makes MobileMe free, it won't be supported by ads or sales of your information. That is not Apple's way. They will instead view it as a value-added service that will recoup costs by enticing more buyers of the Apple products which use the service. In other words, Apple might believe that by making MobileMe free, they enhance the perceived value of their products, and they will sell more of them. I agree wholeheartedly.
Thompson
FREE! Don't make me laugh, this is an Apple ploy. I remember the day I bought OS 9, it included iTools, iTools was like mac.com or mobileme. What happened to it? Apple gave then took away
iTools. So much for Apple, after all, it is Apples way.
- 3 email addresses, 10GB storage, find my iPhone, syncing, and limited iTunes/Photo lockbox = FREE
- 6 email addresses, 50GB storage, find my iPhone, syncing, and massive iTunes/Photo lockbox = $99
Yes please, something like that.
Guess most of us here are adults with a creditcard. But what about our children with an iphone, ipad and Macbook. Why lock them out of this service?