iCloud Will Be Free, For Limited Time

Apple’s new iCloud service will arrive for free, according to the Los Angeles Times. However, Apple will eventually charge $25 for a yearly subscription. But, what does $25 get you? Accordingly:

Dubbed iCloud, the service initially will be offered for a free period to people who buy music from Apple's iTunes digital download store, allowing users to upload their music to Apple's computers where they can then play from a Web browser or Internet-connected Apple device. The company plans to eventually charge a subscription fee, about $25 a year, for the service. Apple would also sell advertising around its iCloud service.

Of course, assuming this story is correct, the definition of “free” could mean different things. For one, we aren’t sure the service will offer unlimited storage or include tiered plans like Amazon does with its Cloud Drive service. For another, does iCloud require a MobileMe account, which currently costs $99/year? Apple will answer these questions (and many more) on Monday, as it opens its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, California. Meanwhile, The Times reports that Apple has signed the last of the four music labels for its iCloud service. Universal, the lone holdout, is said to have signed today. Music publishers are expected to follow tomorrow. What do you think of Apple’s “free” service? Let us know by using the comments below. [Photo: Yolande Larkin]

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