Apple to Make MobileMe Free for iPhone Users, Code Findings Suggest

Changes in the underlying code of iOS 4.2.1 GM may confirm an old rumor that Apple will, at one point, begin offering MobileMe syncing services for free. A free MobileMe tier is believed to be on the table for iOS device owners, as the framework in question is not present in current (public) builds of the iOS.

MacRumors has the full scoop on new evidence uncovered in recent iOS 4.2 builds and the iOS 4.2.1 golden master seed which suggests that “Apple will be offering a free MobileMe tier to users.”

The site claims the evidence stems from a new private framework known as AppleAccounts.framework which includes a number of device-specific error messages referring to free MobileMe accounts.

One error message reportedly include an alert regarding having reached "the maximum number of free accounts" for a given device.

Another claims certain devices are not "qualified for free MobileMe service".

The rumor site confirms that the framework is not only English-localized, but also supported in dozens of languages and territories, suggesting Apple has big plans with the future of MobileMe.

Although the findings were made with the current developer seed (iOS 4.2.1 GM), Softpedia believes that such a big change will see its introduction in more important iOS release, like an event-hosted iOS 4.3 announcement, or even iOS 5.

Apple is likely only testing this stuff against compatible devices for now.

Adding credence to the aforementioned old rumor suggesting MobileMe will be going free some day, “an error message in another part of iOS suggests that free accounts may be used for features other than email, as an error message specifically restricts certain Apple IDs from being used with MobileMe Mail,” the source points out.

The message in question is: "This Apple ID cannot be used for MobileMe Mail, but you can use it for other MobileMe services."

Going by the newly-found code, other MobileMe services include Find My iPhone, iDisk, Contact/Calendar/Safari/Notes over-the-air sync, and Photo Galleries, as far as the iPhone is concerned.

The site itself adds that all this should add up to corroborate the unconfirmed rumor that Apple would begin offering MobileMe for free, if only just for the more basic syncing (cloud) services.