Rumor: Apple might have bought iCloud.com

GigaOm is reporting that Sweden-based cloud storage company Xcerion has just sold its iCloud.com domain name for US$4.5 million and that the likely buyer is none other than Apple. Xcerion had previously sold a cloud-based storage service called iCloud, but it's been rebranded as CloudMe after the sale of the iCloud.com domain.

While GigaOm doesn't get into specifics, the site says its source is familiar with the company and that the buyer of the domain name is Apple. Currently, the WhoIs information still lists Xcerion as the owner of iCloud.com, but that could be a deliberate move until Apple reveals its new cloud-based services.

Even though GigaOm doesn't name its source, it does fit in with other reports that Apple is gearing up to launch a digital locker soon. Apple does have a penchant of throwing an "i" in front of everything. If GigaOm's sources are correct, get ready to say goodbye to iDisk and hello to Apple's iCloud.

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Source: http://gigaom.com/apple/apple-may-have-snapped-up-icloud-com…

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GigaOm is reporting that Sweden-based cloud storage company Xcerion has just sold its iCloud.com domain name for US$4.5 million and...

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unteins

Personally I think CloudMe is a better name than iCloud, but neither is all that great. Do we really need a Cloud name of any kind? Cloud as a term is really popular in the tech media but my mom is going to be awfully confused why her songs are in some fluffy white collection of water droplets up in the sky somewhere.

April 28 2011 at 10:29 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Kenny

I wish they would hurry up & release the cloud based music storage. I am curious if they are going the Amazon route or a totally different direction.

April 28 2011 at 4:49 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Neil

> Xcerion will get a lawsuit from Apple regarding the CloudMe name, which sounds all too familiar with MobileMe

If Xcerion has sold icloud.com to Apple, there's a fair chance that the contract would include a provision that Apple waives any right to sue if Xcerion uses CloudMe to brand their service.

However, even if not, I'm not sure that "CloudMe" and either "MobileMe" or "iCloud" are sufficiently similar to cause confusion in the minds of a consumer?

April 28 2011 at 4:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

James

I'm really sorry to be the grammar Gestapo, but I really shudder at the advance of the word "purposeful" (and its even uglier adverb, 'purposely') into our language. Purposeful is a word, but it doesn't mean what you mean here. The word you're after is 'deliberate'. Thanks for your time.

April 28 2011 at 3:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

afrmx

And now what? Xcerion will get a lawsuit from Apple regarding the CloudMe name, which sounds all too familiar with MobileMe and even so if Apple will be releasing a service called iCloud. Sounds too strange to me.

April 28 2011 at 2:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply