Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has quietly acquired a domain name which was used by a social network, according to a new report.
The Cupertino-based tech giant has taken over ownership of iCloud.net, TechCrunch reported.
It is unknown how much did Apple pay for iCloud.net.
The Asian social network that existed at iCloud.net will be shutting down by the end of this month. The social network has informed its users about the closure, according to the report.
The small social network was launched in 2011. It is not clear how many it ever had.
The homepage of the site said: “iCloud social network is a multi-purpose network platform.”
It also noted: “You can share your activates, pictures, music, videos, movies, write your daily blogs, and join in your favorite groups, etc. By joining iCloud.NET, you will get the latest news feeds from your friends, interact with friends and get the fun of life is our greatest expectations,” as reported by TechCrunch.
The iCloud.net is believed to be one of the last major iCloud-based web addresses that were not owned by Apple. Perhaps, the last major is iCloud.co.uk, which is owned by Dennis Publishing.
Apple started iCloud storage service in 2011. Just before the official launch, the tech giant acquired iCloud.com from Swedish software company Xcerion for $5.2 million.
Xcerion had launched its own cloud-based storage service under iCloud.com name in 2007. Following the sale of the domain name in 2011, the Swedish company changed the name of its brand to CloudMe. Four years later, Xcerion quietly transferred the rest of its iCloud-related name properties, covering some 170 domains (iCloud.us, iCloud.eu and iCloud.tv), to the iPhone maker, TechCrunch reported.
