Analysts believe that Apple iCloud not intended to make money, but wants to use this free service to retain customers, and in the smart phone and tablet PC market against Google's challenge.
Lock users
On Monday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs (Steve Jobs) introduced a new cloud sync and storage service iCloud, and this fall will be introduced in parallel with the iOS 5, instead of MobileMe.
iCloud will be free for Mac OS X Lion iOS and users, of which only part of the function called iTunes Match fees, but only $ 25 per year.
Jobs said, iCloud is a music, photos, applications, documents and other data synchronization service, allowing users ready access to the latest variety of equipment to purchase or create content. Apple A1185 battery on Monday in his Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), said: "We will maintain the devices in sync crazy."
Analysts will iCloud retain existing users as Apple and attract new users in a different way, especially the iPhone and iPad.
U.S. market research firm Forrester Research analyst Charles Galvin (Charles Golvin) said: "I think this is to enhance customer loyalty in a way. For those with one or more users iOS equipment will be Get a better experience. Apple's thinking is: get the benefit of future sales of hardware iCloud investment sufficient to recover costs. "
Although analysts did not use the "lock" the words to describe iCloud this strategy, but its essence is true.
Galvin that, iCloud been able to keep the user, because, once the user is difficult to use this service from the Apple A1175 battery ecosystem.
"ICloud is seamless, users do not need to worry about where to store their content. This will make their own smart phones and tablet PCs satisfaction has increased significantly. This also means that next time they buy similar products to , there are still may choose to apples. "Galvin said.
Gartner analyst Lanei Si (Carolina Milanesi) also agree with this view. She said: "The most important is that this is entirely a cloud computing services, thus demonstrating the advantages of care by Apple."
On Google
Other experts also believe that, iCloud keep Apple users, and respond to Android smart phones and Tablet PC competition initiative.
U.S. investment firm Gleacher & Co analyst Brian Marshall (Brian Marshall), said: "Although this will not be for Apple A1039 battery to create short-term financial results, but we believe iCloud is important because it will enhance the user viscosity Apple ecosystem. "
U.S. investment firm Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White (Brian White) is also a research report Tuesday, said: "These new statement reinforces Apple's digital eco-system, to provide users with more features, simplifying the use of difficult to improve the efficiency and bring new cool features, which we believe will further improve in the future Apple device's popularity. "
While Apple A1189 battery executives said on Monday almost no competitors, but blindly emphasized the advantages of Apple, but Galvin that, iCloud is on Google and Android launch. He said: "This is more than just Apple introduced a new element of ecological systems, it shows that Apple has been able to provide tremendous value."
Galvin also said, iPhone and iPad users have can easily be applied, music, photos and other data to buy a new Apple smart phones and tablet computers.
He said: "To activate the device through iTunes some trouble, but it does provide a seamless experience. Only a small number of operations needed to be all the old content on the iPhone to the new iPhone, sync." But Android users can not enjoy it kinds of functions.
"Apple A1175 battery is in full swing against the Android, so any decisive role as iCloud products that are more meaningful." Galvin said.
Other advantages
Frank Galvin in the Forrester's colleagues Gilles special (Frank Gillett) view is more direct. He believes that Apple A1148 battery will lead the "personal cloud", and the lack of effective competition.
"As the industry's second-largest company, Google is worth attention, but is still difficult to catch up with Apple, because it is front Chrome browser into the application." Gillett said, "Microsoft is significantly behind, it is not clear personal vision of cloud , and Windows 8 should be released in 2012. "
White also pointed out that Apple A1057 battery 's have another advantage: iTunes Match of the annual fee of only $ 25, less than Amazon launched a similar service, also lower than the outside of Google's cloud storage service general price expectations.
Earlier this year, Amazon and Google have launched a music service cloud computing, require users to upload music library to the remote server through mobile devices and PC to listen to streaming music.
Apple's iTunes Match is using a different approach: First, scan the user's music library, and with Apple's music library to match. Immediately after matching music can be downloaded to up to 10 devices or computer. Music purchased through iTunes can be downloaded free of charge to the same number of devices.
Analysts believe that, ultimately, iCloud purpose is to sell more hardware, rather than generate huge revenue stream. Galvin said: "Apple A1280 battery to sell more iOS equipment."
U.S. market research firm Technology Business Research analyst Ezra high Zell (Ezra Gottheil) said: "Apple said, 'Do not worry about the price of the hardware, you are buying is a way of doing things'."
Milaneisi that: "include iCloud, Lion and iOS including, Apple on Monday show proof of all things Apple A1281 battery pluripotency. This is to provide a more rich and amazing experience, you need to have on the ecological control of the system. "
She added: "This is it can serve very well the reasons for the user. Done it."
