Apple Pulls MobileMe From Online Store

[Michael Essany]

MobileMe has gone missing from Apple's online store. As a result, Apple has allegedly started telling third-party resellers that the folks in Cupertino have discontinued the $99 boxed versions of MobileMe. The development comes as Apple debuts no shortage of intriguing new offerings. As Paul covered this morning, Thursday brought with it a refreshed MacBook Pro model range, delivering updated "Sandy Bridge" Intel Core processors, AMD Radeon graphics, Thunderbolt I/O, and more.

The disappearance of the paid version of MobileMe, however, suggests that another longstanding rumor may be on the verge of proving correct. As it stands, Apple is believed to be readying MobileMe as a free service rooted in cloud-based digital lockers for one's multimedia. Heightening speculation toward this eventuality, during yesterday's annual Apple shareholders meeting, Apple revealed that its massive $1 billion North Carolina-based data center is about to come online - a reality that would expedite the rumored plans to send MobileMe to the clouds.

As always, any suspicion of Apple doing something in the clouds should be taken with a grain of salt. We all know that Apple has allegedly been readying a cloud-based iTunes service for as long as anyone can remember. We're yet to see the fruits of Apple's suspected labor on that front. But if MobileMe, in fact, does become a cloud-based service in the coming weeks, there may finally be reason to think that iTunes will follow closely thereafter.

Source: Apple (MobileMe product not found)

[AkkeDaBest]

About time. MobileMe has been a hellava overpriced service.

[frail1]

if it goes free i'm gonna be pissed! i just renewed my subscription!

[Goof]

Hopefully it goes free, I really want a @me.com email address


Sent from my iPhone using ModMyi

[DarkDragonAn]

If it goes free I'll be happy cause I am going to renew on June, that will save me 60 buck's.

[awesomeSlayer]

I will be happy if they made this free. They could also have a pro version of this.

[wcbardwell]

I could see Apple making an announcement about cloud-based storage during their iPad reveal... perhaps as a way to sell consumers to the new hardware. The inability to store files toward any other media other then e-mail (without paying $99 a year) is a big put-off to many (including myself). Needless to say, I'll still get the 2nd gen iPad anyway... But it sure would sweeten the deal for the masses who have held off due to that fact.

[kingmofo]

I just renewed mine on saturday. DAMMIT!

[EVILFRED]

I would not worry. Apple will give something for the users who renewed.

[vedavis]

I'm using Google MS Exchange syncing and the only reason I haven't used MobileMe is the price.

[Lombardo Joe]

Am I the only one who has ever been 'meh' over MobileMe? I kind of feel like the only function that I really use now is restoring of contacts and calendar information when I wipe and re-JB. Dropbox's cloud is nicer, and with minimal things actually on the MobileMe cloud, it's kind of boring. I dunno, maybe I'm picky.

[zturn13]

if it goes free they need to some how make it up to everyone who has paid for it for years or still in contract other wise they are going to tick off alot of people and i don't see them doing that

[endwaro]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!! i was going to start the free trial than maybe pay. Now its going to hopefully be free.

[Antman217]

Never understood why it cost so much when google offers the same for free. Only service that wasn't on google sync is the find my phone feature which is now free to new idevices. So MobileMe was now useless and I guess that's why it might become free.

[Apple.]

Come on be real..

We are talking about Apple here, why give something away for free that's currently making them money??

Does not make sense from a logical standpoint and a business standpoint.

They may offer some free services but do you really think to use THEIR service with THEIR data center that costed THEM millions of dollars to make to just give it for free?? Lol. Don't be naive.

[endwaro]

Guys i have seeing the future and i can say i have another rumor!!!!!!!!!! The new ipad and iphone and ipod touch will all be able to use thunderbolt!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just imagine!!! Blazing fast syncing!!! To bad i wont be getting that ill wait for 2012 for the new macbook pro.

[nicrfe]

It had to happen. Data is the most important thing to the user. Apple wants users to stay. Why not get them to store the data with apple. I can get a new phone and load my google acct and I am done. Mobile me makes switching a bit harder.

[steve-z17]

Am I the only one who has ever been 'meh' over MobileMe? I kind of feel like the only function that I really use now is restoring of contacts and calendar information when I wipe and re-JB. Dropbox's cloud is nicer, and with minimal things actually on the MobileMe cloud, it's kind of boring. I dunno, maybe I'm picky.

I'm with ya on that one! Haven't had the desire to get it, it's too expensive I think.

[bigboyz]

im sure you'd get some sort of refund...i would hope anyway

Im not a big CLOUD fan really...but if it's free its for me :]

[feidhlim1986]

I have MobileMe for Push email. Calendar, Contacts & Bookmarks backup and sync. iPhone security features. Simple Webhosting & iDisk. I backup all my photos too to the Gallery.
Now that I think about it I don't mind spending the €79 a year cos I use MobileMe quite a bit. I would love it all to be free tho