Apple is expected to release its own iTunes-related cloud strategy soon likely integrating its MobileMe services and taking advantage of its investments in its North Carolina data center, Ben Reitzes, an analyst at Barclays Capital, told clients in a note — as reported by “International Business Times” (http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/130749/20110405/apple-inc-itunes-mobileme-service-cloud-strategy-amazon-iphone-ipad-mac-android.htm#ixzz1IfklTqGy).
Last week, Amazon announced its Amazon Cloud Drive, Amazon Cloud Player for Web and Amazon Cloud Player for Android with the ability to store music, photos, videos and documents in the cloud and access them on many devices.
“We believe the launch of Apple’s service is much more complex than Amazon’s given its millions of users with years worth of files,” Reitzes says. “Also Apple faces much more legal scrutiny in terms of attention from content owners and regulators – who will need to be ‘on board’ from day one.”
The analyst said Apple would use its cloud based iTunes/MobileMe service to further “lock in” customers to its ecosystem by making content available seamlessly on iPhones, iPads and Macs.
Reitzes added that NFC capability on future products could also dovetail nicely with cloud based services by providing the availability to recognize users and potentially allow them to log in virtually directly into Macs and other devices remotely.