Apple buys domain icloud.com

[webby]

Apple has indeed acquired the domain name iCloud.com from Sweden-based hybrid cloud computing outfit Xcerion. Sources in position to know confirm that Apple bought the domain as GigaOm first reported Thursday, though they declined to say whether its rumored $4.5 million price tag was accurate.

Just what Apple plans to do with the domain is unclear. Presumably, it will have something to do with whatever cloud-based services the company is rumored to be ramping up in its 505,000-square-foot North Carolina data center.

 

[CorSport]

yeeeeeaaaaaah baby, a useable cloud is coming.

 

[webby]

Strong evidence of Apple's upcoming iCloud service has been found in the form of a feature hidden within in a developer build of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion that allows a MobileMe account to be migrated to a codenamed "Castle" service.

After Apple released a third build of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Developer Preview 2 on Friday, Consomac.fr (via Google Translate) discovered references to a service codenamed "Castle" in a new Find My Mac feature.

"Castle" most likely refers to the iCloud service that Apple has been developing. Reliable sources told AppleInsider earlier this week that the Cupertino, Calif., company has been using the service internally and plans to use it for more than just streaming music.

Last week, a report cited sources claiming that the Swedish company Xcerion had sold Apple the iCloud.com domain for $4.5 million. The iCloud moniker was later independently confirmed by John Paczkowski of Digital Daily, though he was unable to confirm the selling price.

Apple has reportedly completed work on a music streaming service that would allow users to store music on a remote server and access them from Internet-connected devices.

Apple confirmed earlier this year that a 500,000 square-foot data center set to go online this spring will support iTunes and MobileMe services. Given that the $1 billion facility is five times larger than the the company's current data center in Newark, Calif., Apple appears to be planning a big push into cloud computing.

In February, reports emerged that Apple is planning a significant revamp of its MobileMe service that would build out its cloud-based features, including a 'locker' for personal memorabilia such as photos, music and videos.

 

[iluvmycsx]

Apple on Tuesday confirmed it's going to the cloud and that splashy pitchman Steve Jobs will deliver the details.
The company said CEO Jobs and other executives will discuss a new service for storing and retrieving media online, called iCloud, at its Worldwide Developers Conference, which begins Monday in San Francisco.
Uncertainty over the appearance of Jobs, who is on medical leave, has been a near-sideshow of speculation leading into Apple events.
Ahead of the cloud launch, Apple has been setting up a huge data center in North Carolina to prepare, says Envisioneering Group analyst Richard Doherty.
"This may be the most powerful data center ever, outside of government," Doherty says. "It will be able to handle millions of streams per minute without any network hiccups."
Apple's move to the cloud follows recent entries by Google and Amazon, with music services that let users upload songs they own to servers that in turn let them pull them down from various devices.
Both Google Music Beta and Amazon Cloud Drive don't work with the iPhone, and iCloud most assuredly will.
Doherty says iCloud will take your iTunes music collection and make it accessible from anywhere. "It's another reason for consumers to stay with iTunes," he says.
That Apple chose to announce iCloud on Tuesday, and not next week at the conference, is all about "setting expectations" that a new iPhone won't be revealed as well, says Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray.
"The real message is: Don't expect to see the iPhone 5 next week," he says.
Apple has introduced a new version of its iPhone at the last three WWDCs.
Munster thinks the launch of a new iPhone is being pushed to September, mostly because of parts shortages.
Doherty adds that the delay is directly tied to Apple wireless partner AT&T and its much-publicized network issues.
"AT&T is spending a lot of money advertising the new strength of its network, with new towers," he says. "Being ready for the new, faster network seems to be the idea."
Apple also said it would show off an update to its computer and mobile operating systems, Lion and iOS 5.

 

[webby]

yeah, most likely a lot of software being shown off, as well as the icloud

 

[MrsJrotax101]

http://www.apple.com/icloud/

 

[LizBot]

They are hiring at that Data Center which is about an hour away from me. Sadly, I do not have the credentials to work there.

 

[webby]

 

[LizBot]

Even as a janitor, someone has to have an Associates degree in Industrial Janitorial Work.. or something. I forgot what the degree was but it was like REALLY?!

 

[webby]

You never know. Apply for anything you could potentially get. I don't know anyone who works as a janitor (for various companies) with any special degree. The only thing they can say is "no". You're no better off NOT applying in that situation.

 

[spcdan]

 

[KennyGS]

Even as a janitor, someone has to have an Associates degree in Industrial Janitorial Work.. or something. I forgot what the degree was but it was like REALLY?!

You should work in their food prep/service area.

 

[LizBot]

I'm already a hostess/cashier in my local Chinese buffet. Close enough.