Sunday, June 15, 2008
Apple Enters the Web 2.0 Arena with MobileMe
byNearly lost amid the excitement surrounding the new iPhone 3G, Apple introduced a new service at their World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) called MobileMe. Many initially proclaimed it nothing more than a warmed-over version of Apple’s venerable—but not terribly popular—.Mac service. However, it includes some notable new features and, most intriguing to me, a new Web 2.0 interface that further closes the gap between the desktop and the Web.
According to Apple, the benefit of MobileMe is nearly instantaneous syncing across all of your devices, including Mac, PC, and iPhone. They describe MobileMe as “Exchange for the rest of us,” meaning the benefits of Exchange ActiveSync technology for individuals who may not have access to a corporate Exchange server. MobileMe also includes photo and file syncing for easy file transfers and sharing to any Web-enabled device.
During the WWDC keynote, Apple’s Phil Schiller also gave a detailed demonstration of me.com, the Web-based version of Apple Mail, iCal, Address Book, iPhoto, and file sharing applications. They have recently experimented with Web 2.0 technologies on their Web site and online Apple Store, but this is Apple’s first foray into Web-based applications that mimic the full functionality of their desktop counterparts. You can drag-and-drop files and e-mail messages, rotate and resize images in real-time, etc., all from a modern Web browser.
While I predict MobileMe will be moderately successful among Apple devotees—certainly more successful than .Mac—the big question is whether the integration and convenience of this service can justify the $99 annual price tag. So many of these features are already available to corporate customers who use Exchange or at a lower cost from other online services. Can Apple truly compete in this arena?
