Apple Discontinuing MobileMe Retail Boxes, Preparing for Free Overhauled Version?

[MacNewsFix]

So let me get this straight...Apple recently built a huge multi-billion dollar data center for potential use for a service that they would give away for free? Yeah, right! MobileMe will always be a paid service

Not if they want to go head-to-head with Gmail, Gcalendar, YouTube (Vimeo-like service is rumored), and Foursquare (also rumored).

However, I wouldn't be surprised if web hosting remains a paid service and would be impressed if online photo galleries become free (look out Flickr).

 

[KENTW]

Thinking probably free email but with some kind of iAds integration, free cal, free address and maybe 2gig iDisk. Paid service will be add free email and usual 20gig iDisk. Makes sense for apple to start tempting everyone to MobileMe with a free service.

 

[Trooperof3]

HAHAHAHA.

Sorry, but it makes me laugh, The start giving away mobileme for free, yet just released Facetime for 99 cents.

 

[Mattstkc]

the potential for MobileMe is limitless. This will probably be the "major" part of the iPad 2 announcement as it expands usefulness and effectiveness of the device to act as a full laptop replacement.

 

[deadkennedy]

NOT buying it Apple. Seeing what happened with the latest Greed Tax, buying into a MobileMe scam could seriously damage your data and wallet.

 

[malnar]

I hope it goes free because everyone knows you can get a MUCH cheaper version from Amazon for $65. I've never paid $99 for MobileMe!

You can get it a lot cheaper than that. Search Ebay, pick one of the non-family pack versions. I was impatient and grabbed one for $45 last fall. They can be had cheaper if you really look around.

 

[Mattstkc]

Not if they want to go head-to-head with Gmail, Gcalendar, YouTube (Vimeo-like service is rumored), and Foursquare (also rumored).

However, I wouldn't be surprised if web hosting remains a paid service and would be impressed if online photo galleries become free (look out Flickr).

and with all the iDevice sales they can afford to go free and make their devices even more valuable.

 

[lshaner]

The out of the box experience for a new Mac offers a free 60 day trial, so that alone obviates any need for a retail boxed version of Mobile Me.

 

[knownikko]

Perfect, my subscription expires in May. Good timing.

 

[n4uaj]

Free sounds good to me! I would like to see them prorate what's left on my family pack and just throw it on the iTunes store as a credit

 

[Reach9]

Free? Yes please.
Or a much cheaper price? Yes please.
$10 a year sounds good to me.

 

[Nishi100]

So let me get this straight...Apple recently built a huge multi-billion dollar data center for potential use for a service that they would give away for free? Yeah, right! MobileMe will always be a paid service

HAHAHAHA.

Sorry, but it makes me laugh, The start giving away mobileme for free, yet just released Facetime for 99 cents. It comes free with every mac.

+1 Apple loves money. But, then again, they overprice all of their products, so all the extra money that they make could go towards the free MobileMe. Or, they could just offer it, for free, to people who are buying a new Mac.

 

[Martyimac]

Since all I used mobilme for was syncing contacts and limited e-mail, it wasn't worth $99 a year so I took my credit card info off so it couldn't renew. IF mobilme has tiered pricing for those of us who don't use all the capabilities, I will go back and sign up again. But I am talking about max $20 per year for the little that I use it.

 

[WalrusCP]

Personally, I think there will be a basic free membership and a premium/pro membership. If Apple is smart, the pro membership will drop in price to $50-60. I think that would make just about everybody happy.

 

[Jony Mac]

Went to Apple's Web Store and did a search for MobileMe. Nothing came up.. Hmmm.
"
Your Apple Store search request had no matches. Please double check that all words are spelled correctly or try different (more general) keywords. For your assistance, we've provided links to commonly requested information below.

Find an Apple Retail Store near you.
Buy music. Download iTunes.
Get special deals on Apple Certified refurbished products."

 

[fabian9]

Awesome, so we'll probably see an introduction of the new overhauled (and hopefully free) mobileMe on Wednesday!

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

And I'm up for renewal in March. This could be interesting...

 

[rdb1976]

If They Make MobileMe Free

When Apple bought the online music streaming network Lala and shut it down, the people that had bought subscriptions were given equivalent credit on the iTunes Store. I'm assuming Apple would do the same those of us that paid for MobileMe.

 

[KENTW]

Went to Apple's Web Store and did a search for MobileMe. Nothing came up.. Hmmm.
"
Your Apple Store search request had no matches. Please double check that all words are spelled correctly or try different (more general) keywords. For your assistance, we've provided links to commonly requested information below.

Find an Apple Retail Store near you.
Buy music. Download iTunes.
Get special deals on Apple Certified refurbished products."

ME is still there: http://www.apple.com/uk/mobileme/

 

[3282868]

Great, so for those of us who have paid through a few years as we purchased it with an iPhone or such, do we get reimbursed?!

 

[Xeperu]

Those bastards better refund my paid months left or hell will break loose.

 

[BenRoethig]

My MobileMe just auto-renewed. If they switch to a free model, will apple reimburse the customers that have payed or compensate in some way?

They'd have to, but don't expect anything more than apple store credit.

 

[rfahey]

If they're going to make it free i hope it's soon because my sub comes up for renewal this summer!

 

[agent_zero]

Just saw this...forgive me if redundant

http://www.me.com web apps Maintenance - 02/24/2011 22:00-22:30 PT
Due to scheduled maintenance, some MobileMe members may be intermittently unable to access MobileMe applications at me.com. Members will still be able to access MobileMe Mail using a mail application on their Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Normal service is expected to be restored at the end of the maintenance window. We apologize for any inconvenience.

 

[Stella]

MobileMe has become expensive for what it provides, not to mention lackluster.

It should come free with OSX.