Apple has quietly added a new iCloud storage option which is offering U.S customers 2TB of data storage space at a price of $19.99 per month. Apple now offers four iCloud storage tiers at prices starting at $0.99 in a move that answers the request of avid iPhone photographers and other power users.
According to The Verge, the new move by Apple is not to replace a previous one, hence, fans will still be able to pay $0.99 a month for 50GB, $2.99 for 200GB, or $9.99 for 1TB. Both iOS and Mac users who do not pay for iCloud also get a default amount of 5GB for free.
The new iCloud storage tier has been availed by Apple as part of an update to its iCloud storage support webpage. According to this, the expansion is already live in all regions where iCloud is already available, including North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific.
The upgrade comes about a week ahead of the company's Sept. 7 event, where new versions of the Apple Watch and iPhone are expected to appear alongside new operating system updates.
After the update that was officially introduced on Tuesday, Aug 30, rumors have suggested that camera improvements could be one of the features coming to the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, this could be one of the reasons Apple is providing more storage space, Mac Rumors reported. A dual-lens camera, as is rumored for the iPhone 7 Plus, could produce pictures that are larger, resulting in users such as photographers who need more space to store their photos and other files.
This expansion in iCloud storage tier comes as Apple aims at building a growing online services business. Tim Cook, Apple CEO said during the company's most recent quarterly earnings conference call that he hopes that by the year 2017 the online services business will provide revenue equivalent to that of a Fortune 500 company.
Aside of iCloud storage, the sector also includes iTunes, Apple Pay, Apple Music, Apple Care and the various App Stores. For the June quarter, Apple's online services business sector brought in a record $6 billion a figure that represents an increase of 19 percent year over year.
Watch a video on how Apple iCloud works and how to manage it here: