iCloud, Apple’s set of cloud services, stores your music, photos, apps, calendars, documents, and more and wirelessly pushes them to all your devices. It integrates seamlessly with your apps, so everything happens automatically. And iCloud is free for iOS 5 and OS X Lion users. More information is available at www.apple.ca/icloud.
MobileMe Services
What's happening to MobileMe?
The core services provided by MobileMe have been completely rewritten and are now part of iCloud. MobileMe will no longer be available after June 30th, 2012. To continue to have mail, contacts, and calendars kept up to date automatically and free of charge, and to enjoy the new services that iCloud provides, MobileMe members must move their accounts to iCloud before June 30th, 2012.
Which MobileMe services are available in iCloud?
The following MobileMe services are available in iCloud:
| MobileMe Service | Available in iCloud |
|---|---|
| Available | |
| Contacts | Available |
| Calendar | Available |
| Bookmarks | Available |
| Find My iPhone | Available |
| Back to My Mac | Available |
| iWeb publishing | Unavailable |
| Gallery | Unavailable |
| iDisk | unavailable |
In addition, iCloud includes the following new services:*
- iTunes in the Cloud
- Photo Stream
- Documents in the Cloud
- Automatic downloads and purchase history for apps and books
- Backup and restore
Can I keep my MobileMe email address once I move to iCloud?
Yes. When you move to iCloud, you can keep your existing me.com or mac.com email address and any email aliases you have created. See “Moving to iCloud” below.
What happens to the iWeb sites that I’ve published to MobileMe?
You can continue publishing iWeb sites to MobileMe through June 30th, 2012, even after moving to iCloud. After June 30th, websites published to MobileMe will no longer be available. However, with iWeb you can easily move a site published to MobileMe to another web hosting service. Please read this article for details.
What happens to the photos that I’ve posted to my MobileMe Gallery?
You can continue using MobileMe Gallery through June 30th, 2012, even after moving to iCloud. After June 30th, your gallery will no longer be available. You should save copies of all photos published to your gallery before that date. If you have a Mac, it is likely that most of your gallery photos are already in iPhoto. If not, you can sync the gallery photos to your iPhoto library. You can also download your photos and movies directly from the web. Please read this article for details.
What happens to the files on my MobileMe iDisk?
You can continue using MobileMe iDisk through June 30th, 2012, even after moving to iCloud. After June 30th, iDisk will no longer be available. You should save copies of all files stored on iDisk before that date. Please read this article for details.
What happens to the other sync services I use for my Mac?
After you move to iCloud or after June 30th, 2012, whichever comes first, syncing of Mac Dashboard widgets, keychains, Dock items, and System Preferences will no longer be available. Please read this article for details.
Moving to iCloud
How do I move to iCloud?
To move your MobileMe account to iCloud, make sure your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and PC are running the required software and you have a backup of your contacts, calendars, and bookmarks. When you’re ready to move your mail, contacts, calendars, bookmarks, and Find My iPhone to iCloud, go to me.com/move.
What are the system requirements for iCloud?
iCloud requires iOS 5 on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch; OS X Lion v10.7.2 or later on a Mac; and Microsoft Windows 7 or Vista (Service Pack 2 or later) on a PC. Please read this article for details.
What if some of my devices can’t be updated to the iCloud system requirements?
If you can’t update all your devices, you can still move to iCloud, but iCloud services will work only on the devices that meet the system requirements. You can also choose to keep using just your email after MobileMe ends, even on devices that don’t meet the requirements. See the next question for more information.
What if I just want to keep using my email on all my devices?
As of May 1, you can choose to keep using your mail after MobileMe ends, even on devices that don’t meet the iCloud system requirements. Just go to me.com/move and select the option to keep using your email after MobileMe ends. Once you have completed this short process, your mail will continue to work on devices that don’t meet the iCloud requirements after MobileMe ends on June 30th, 2012.
I currently have more than 5GB of storage for MobileMe. Will I be able to move to iCloud?
Yes. The free 5GB of storage provided by iCloud is used only for Mail, Documents & Data, and Backup. Purchased music, apps, books, TV shows, and movies do not count against this 5GB of storage, nor do the photos in Photo Stream. As a result, most users will not need more than the free 5GB of storage after they move to iCloud.
MobileMe members with 20GB of purchased storage receive a complimentary iCloud storage upgrade of 20GB, and accounts with additional purchased storage (40GB to 60GB) receive a complimentary upgrade of 50GB after moving to iCloud. These free upgrades are good through September 30th, 2012. After that date, you can continue the upgrade at the regular price or let it expire and use the free 5GB plan.
Can I access iCloud on the web?
Yes. Web access to iCloud Mail, Contacts, Calendar, iWork Documents, and Find My iPhone is available at icloud.com.
Can Family Pack members move their MobileMe accounts separately to iCloud?
Yes. The master account holder and family members can move their individual accounts whenever they like, as long as they do so before June 30th, 2012. After moving to iCloud, family member accounts are no longer linked to the master account.
MobileMe Accounts
If I use different Apple IDs for iTunes and MobileMe, can I merge them into a single account and use it with iCloud?
No, you cannot merge two accounts into one. However, If you have purchased items from the iTunes Store or App Store with a different Apple ID from the one you use for MobileMe, you can continue to use that Apple ID for store purchases and use your iCloud Apple ID (yourname@me.com) with your mail, contacts, calendars, and other services. Please read this article for details.
Can I upgrade my MobileMe account to a Family Pack or buy more MobileMe storage?
You don’t need to upgrade your individual account to a Family Pack account, because your family members can sign up for iCloud for free on devices running iOS 5 or OS X Lion. Storage upgrades are no longer available for MobileMe, but most MobileMe members receive a complimentary storage upgrade in iCloud that is good through September 30th, 2012. See “Moving to iCloud” above.
Can I get a refund for my MobileMe subscription?
If you have an unused activation code from a MobileMe box, you can submit a refund request through June 30th, 2012. Or if you have an active subscription, you can cancel your service.
*Some features require a Wi-Fi connection. Some features are not available in all countries. Access to some services is limited to 10 devices. Previous purchases may be unavailable if they are no longer in the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBookstore. Some features are subject to additional fees.