Apple reveals iCloud storage pricing details

BANGALORE, INDIA: Apple has launched the Beta version of its much touted cloud storage service iCloud, along with its pricing details, much before its public launch expected this falls in September.

iCloud, inspired from Apple's Cloud Me service, however is said to offer much more than it as per its makers.

"iCloud is so much more than a hard drive in the sky. iCloud stores your music, photos, apps, calendars, documents, and more. And wirelessly pushes them to all your devices – automatically. It’s the easiest way to manage your content. Because now you don’t have to," says Apple on its website.

Apple also adds that when Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch are updated to iOS 5, Apple apps become seamlessly integrated with iCloud. Thus all content and information will be available, up to date, irrespective of which device one is using.

Moreover, it keeps email, contacts, and calendars up to date across all devices, without the need to sync them.

iCloud Storage Price

The basic 5GB of storage will be free on signing up for iCloud.

"Your purchased music, apps, books, and TV shows, as well as your Photo Stream, don’t count against your free storage. Since your mail, documents, Camera Roll, account information, settings, and other app data don’t use as much space, 5GB goes a long way," says Apple.

And now, if that is not enough, Apple also has tiered storage service; $20 for 10GB, $40 for 20GB and $100 for 50GB, so that you never run short of storage space on its iCloud.

The pricing seems a bit higher than that of other similar storage and sync services from Amazon, Drop Box or Google.

Drop Box charges roughly $120 per year for 50 GB of storage, while Amazon is just $50 per year for the same quantity, whereas, Google charges $20 per year for 80 GB.