Apple is telling suppliers that they will no longer be selling MobileMe subscriptions in preparation for a launch of a new, free and radically overhauled version of the service launching next month.
According to iLounge, Apple is suggesting that suppliers should recommend that customers sign up for the 60-day MobileMe trial to cover the gap between now and the new MobileMe’s launch.
The new MobileMe sounds like it will be a different product than the current version, as Apple will allegedly be supporting current MobileMe subscribers for a year after the new MobileMe becomes available.
Rumors and reports have suggested that MobileMe will be radically revamped this year to function as a cloud-based media locker. Steve Jobs said late last year that there were major changes ahead for MobileMe in 2011, and recent reports have said that Apple’s cloud-ambitions come in the form of a “locker” service for music and movies as opposed to a streaming system like Spotify, so as not to undermine Apple’s lucrative downloads business.
Between Apple removing any ability to pay for MobileMe and rumors of an imminent relaunch, it’s looking very good at this point that iTunes will enter the cloud next month in one way or another.
