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Apple Buys iCloud.com

  • GigaOm, Thursday, April 28, 2011 12 PM

Likely readying the launch of its online music storage service, Apple has reportedly bought the domain named iCloud.com. "My source, who is familiar with the company, says that [desktop-as-a-service company] Xcerion has sold the domain to Apple for about $4.5 million," reports GigaOm's Om Malik. "This is most certainly a possibility," TechCrunch writes of the report. "Last week, we also received a tip that Apple purchased iCloud.com."

Whatever its name, "Apple is clearly plotting to launch a cloud-based media storage and online music streaming service in the foreseeable future," TechCrunch adds. "Apple is rushing to launch its service with licensing agreements from the four major music record labels before rivals Google and Amazon," writes VentureBeat. "If the company hadn't already secured the name of its service, it would be a priority near the top of the list. So the timing of this domain purchase would make sense."

Amazon launched a similar service earlier this month, but without the approval of the big music labels. Apple, on the other hand, is reportedly seeking licenses for its service, and will pay the labels for the privilege. Perhaps erasing the need for a new name, however, Apple Insider recently suggested that the upcoming music streaming service would come in the form of an enhanced version of MobileMe.

Yet "Apple's MobileMe service that syncs up your emails and contacts and stuff through the cloud is well-regarded but little-used because it's expensive and Google has similar services for free," points out Business Insider. "Plenty of people are waiting for Apple to ‘get' the cloud and come out with an innovative, free/cheap cloud service."

Read the whole story at GigaOm »

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