News Analysis: Apple's iCloud will be unveiled on June 6, and in order for it to be successful, it will need a number of essential features that go far beyond a basic music streaming service.
As many who have been
following Apple these last couple years have suspected, the Cupertino,
Calif.-based company will finally unveil its cloud-based service, iCloud, at
the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco on June 6. So far, Apple
has been tight-lipped about its plans for iCloud. But speculation abounds that
the service could rely heavily upon music.
If it's all about music,
iCloud will be a loser. In today's computing environment, the cloud is becoming
more important. Consumers are starting to realize that the more they can do in
the cloud, the better. Simply put, in order for Apple's iCloud to be a success,
the service will need to do more than just help people stream music.
So, what else should
Apple deliver to consumers to make iCloud a success?
Read on to find out:
1. Full major label support
One of the key issues
with Google Music, another cloud-based service, is that it launched without
support from major record labels, limiting the usability of the service.
Apple's iCloud, however,
will reportedly feature licensed music, making it an arguably
better choice. In order for iCloud to be totally successful,
Apple will need to have the full support of all major
labels.
That would give it the key advantage it would need.
2. Movie streaming
Though iCloud might work
with music labels, it will only be a true hit if Apple also brings movies and
other content to the service. After all, iTunes is popular today because of all
the content available to it. iCloud will be able to enjoy a similar level of
success if it has the same breadth of entertainment available as iTunes.
3. Support for Windows
PCs
There's little debating
that iCloud will work with iOS-based devices and Macs, but will it also work
with Windows PCs? Chances are it will, since iTunes is currently running on
Windows. But if Apple decides to only invite its own customers to the party,
like it has with FaceTime, it could be in for trouble.
4. Can it go beyond
iOS-based devices?
Moreover, one might also
wonder if Apple plans to make iCloud available to other mobile devices, aside
from the iPhone and iPad. Chances are it won't, since the company currently
only offers iTunes on its line of products. But as Android continues to gain
popularity, it might not be long before Apple acknowledges its dominance and
sees it more as a revenue opportunity than a threat. And the sooner it
acknowledges that,
the sooner iCloud can be a success.
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