ICloud is a cloud storage and cloud computing service from Apple Inc. launched on October 12, 2011. As of February 2016, the service had 782 million users. The service provides its users with the means to store data such as documents, photos and music on remote servers for download to iOS, Macintosh or Windows devices, share and send data to other users, and manage their Apple devices if they are lost or stolen.
The service also provides the means to wirelessly back up iOS devices directly to iCloud, rather than relying on manual backups to a Mac or Windows computer with iTunes. Service users can also share photos, music and games instantly by linking accounts through Wireless AirDrop.
Replaced Apple's MobileMe service, acting as a data synchronization center for email, contacts, calendars, bookmarks, notes, reminders (to-do lists), iWork documents, photos, and other data. One of Apple's iCloud data centers is located in Maiden, North Carolina, USA.
As of 2011, iCloud is based on Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure (Apple iOS Security white paper published in 2014, Apple recognized that encrypted iOS files are stored on Amazon S3 and Microsoft Azure). In 2016, Apple signed an agreement with Google to use the Google Cloud Platform for some iCloud services.
In October 2016, Bloomberg reported that Apple was working on the Pie project which aims to improve the speed and experience of Apple's online services by being operated more directly by Apple. It was also reported that Apple was going to relocate all of its service employees to the Apple Campus (1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California), as many other employees would move to Apple's Campus 2.