14 DAY TRIAL // Analyst Peter Misek with the consulting firm Jefferies says in a research note that Apple “is about to launch a new video-focused cloud-based service” that takes advantage of its North Carolina data center that will serve more than just a content locker, as previously rumored.
Apple is going to offer what Misek calls a “new far reaching cloud-based service that is more than just a music or content locker and focused on video.”
According to the analyst, this will be a milestone in Apple’s push into the living room, which should coincide with the launch of a new device, be it a fully fledged HD TV, or an updated set-top box.
The Jefferies analyst tells investors that Apple’s new data center in North Carolina “has gone live or will do so shortly.”
Clues pertaining to the upcoming existence of an adjacent data center have also been found, the researcher said.
“While much has been speculated on what these data centers could be for it seems that much of this is likely being built for video,” his note reads, according to Forbes.
“It is a guess based on the size of the storage that has been purchased, the fact that video consumes far more data than audio, and the introduction of a simple audio locker or cloud-based version of iTunes is unlikely to require this much storage and capability out of the gate,” he writes.
“Second we find some of the chatter in the content world to be centered around the iPad and future services.”
“We find it notable that the content companies, citing a lack of domain license, asked Cablevision (CVC) to remove channels from its iPad app. We believe these same companies are negotiating some sort of deal with Apple,” Misek upholds.
Finally, he asserts that “Jobs’ final hurrah before turning the reins over would be to revolutionize video much in the same way Apple has transformed the mobile, computing, and music world.”
According to a person reportedly aware of Apple's plans, Steve Jobs is “pushing hard to get WiFi syncing into the next-generation of iPods."
It all falls into place - the WiFi capability will undoubtedly be used to stream content from this yet-unconfirmed new service.