14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has begun notifying MobileMe-to-iCloud transitioners that the complementary 20GB upgrade storage offered last year would be retracted at the end of this month.
When Apple released iCloud to the masses last year, it offered a complementary 20GB of storage (on top of the free 5GB standard storage) to all MobileMe customers transitioning to the new cloud service.
The catch, however, was that the extra space was not only complementary, but also temporary.
When the clock strikes 12 on September 30th, the 20 gigs of space you probably got very used to will no longer be usable. So Apple’s advice is to back up and prepare to let it go.
“Your iCloud storage will be reduced to 5GB on 30/09/2012,” reads an email sent to MobileMe transitioners. “However, you are currently using more than 5 GB,” the email adds for customers who’ve (rightfully) exceeded the free limit.
Cupertino then warns customers that, unless they take steps to save their data, everything will stop syncing over the 5GB limit.
“Unless you take action before your downgrade takes effect, backups to iCloud will stop, and apps will no longer be able to save documents to iCloud.”
Customers are then offered a choice. Either lose the storage, or apply for a new annual plan to keep it.
“You can either free up storage or cancel your downgrade to keep your current storage plan for another year.”
To free up the storage, customers are told to visit the Settings panel in iOS and access iCloud, then tap Storage & Backup, and finally hit Manage Storage to choose the items they’d like to delete or stop backing up.
Alternately, users can keep their current storage plan by taking the same steps, only this time using the Account menu in iCloud. Customers must tap their current plan, choose Downgrade Options, and follow the on-screen instructions.
To be noted that Apple won’t delete the data you already have stored in iCloud even if you exceed the 5GB limit. The only problem is you won’t be able to upload anything else from September 30 on.
If you want to continue to use the storage, prices are $20 / €16 for 10GB, $40 / €32 for 20GB, and $100 / €80 for 50GB.