Apple rebrands .Mac to MobileMe - sets July launch

Jun
09

By: switchtoamac at: 8:45 PM on June 9, 2008 | Comments (0)

On Monday June 9, 2008 the kickoff day of WWDC 2008, Apple announced MobileMe, the new service that will replace .Mac (dot Mac). The new service provides Push Email, Push Contacts and Push Calendar for iPhone, iPod touch, Macs and PCs and also provides a suite of elegant web applications that deliver a desktop-like experience from any modern browser.

Features

Push Email, calendar, and contacts
Synchronization between iPhone, Mac and PC
Desktop-like web applications and online storage

MobileMe email account users will see an identical look from their iPhone, iPod touch, Mac or PC. New email messages will be automatically pushed to an iPhone over the cellular network or Wi-Fi thus, removing the need to manually check email and wait for downloads. The new Push feature also keeps your calendar and calendars in sync allowing changes on one device to automatically pushed up to the "cloud" and updated on other devices such as a Mac or PC. Push works with the native applications on iPhone and iPod touch, Microsoft Outlook for the PC, and Mac OS X applications, Mail, Address Book and iCal, as well as the MobileMe web application suite.

Comments from Apple Executives
Apple CEO - Steve Jobs

“Think of MobileMe as ‘Exchange for the rest of us". “Now users who are not part of an enterprise that runs Exchange can get the same push email, push calendars and push contacts that the big guys get.

Apple VP of Product Marketing - Phil Schiller

Not all of us work in an enterprise... Not all of us have access to an exchange server. Now with MobileMe, we all can have access to those features. [...] MobileMe is Exchange for the rest of us.

Pricing & Availability
The MobileMe subscription-based service with 20GB of storage will be available on July 11 for $99 (US) per year (individual) or $149 (US) per year (Family Pack which includes one master account with 20GB of storage and four Family Member accounts with 5GB of storage each).

Signup and information for current .Mac users
Users can sign up for a free, 60-day MobileMe trial at www.apple.com/mobileme. MobileMe subscribers can purchase an additional 20GB of storage for $49 (US) or 40GB of storage for $99 (US) annually. Current .Mac members will be automatically upgraded to a MobileMe account.

Guided Tour
Apple has posted a guided tour demonstrating the key features of MobileMe.