iCloud kills off MobileMe, Apple refunds your MobileMe money

Apple's iCloud is on the horizon, bringing free back-up and syncing across all your fruit-flavoured devices. But what does that mean for those who've already forked out for MobileMe?

iCloud replaces Apple's current online storage service, the much-maligned MobileMe. If you're a MobileMe subscriber, you can keep your MobileMe email address and move your mail, contacts, calendars and bookmarks to iCloud.

MobileMe will stick around until 30 June 2012, and all subscribers will have their subscriptions extended until then, without having to pay an extra penny. But that isn't such a great deal: keeping MobileMe hanging around like a party guest who just won't leave means Apple doesn't have to actually give anyone their money back unless they get up off the couch and cancel.

Refunds will be calculated on a pro rata basis, so you'll get a proportion of your money back based on how long is left on your subscription. Refunds will be applied from the date you tell Apple you're making like a tree and leaving. Once you cancel, you'll have your money back in four weeks, paid back to the card or bank account you used to buy your subscription. The full details are on Apple's website.

Apple is also offering a refund to anyone who's bought a MobileMe package but hasn't activated it yet. To claim your money back for an unopened MobileMe box, you need to send Apple a photo of the unused activation codes printed on the box.

MobileMe had been criticised for its cost, especially as many of its services, such as webmail, are available elsewhere for free. MobileMe's killer feature, Find My iPhone, was made free last year, sounding the death knell for MobileMe in the process.

Are you a MobileMe subscriber? Are you happy with iCloud? Let us know in the comments sections below or on our Facebook page.