Apple uses Google servers to store iCloud data

This is a strange decision when in fact Apple and Google are considered two formidable opponents in the world technology arena.

Neither Apple nor Google have commented on the matter, although the BBC has confirmed that Apple does indeed store iCloud data on the Google Cloud Platform. Apple has previously acknowledged using Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure to store customer data.

However, Google, Amazon or Microsoft will only be a place to store information related to Apple customers using iCloud, but will not be able to directly access user data. "iCloud data will not be accessible to storage service providers because Apple has used modern encryption technology," technology expert Chris Green assessed.

Currently, in the online data and computing services market, Google is far behind its two rivals Amazon and Microsoft in terms of market share and sales. Revenue from Google Cloud Platform in the fourth quarter of 2015 was only one-seventh of the revenue earned from Amazon Web Services. This cooperation with Apple is a premise for Google to increase the provision of web services and storage to other companies. CRN, the news site that first reported the deal between Apple and Google, said that Apple reached an agreement with Google Cloud Platform on iCloud data storage late last year.

Many may think that Apple’s decision to use Google’s services is a strange one, given that these are two rival companies. But according to CRN, the price picture is the deciding factor. Apple is looking to reduce its reliance on Amazon Web Services, which it is said to have spent around $1 billion on in February. By contrast, if Apple were to use Google Cloud Platform, it would cost between $400 million and $600 million, although that price has not been officially confirmed.

Speaking to CRN, technology expert Michael Freaser said that although Google is still a weak name in the hosting service market, it provides the service at the cheapest price and with the best quality. The reason Amazon holds 31% of the market share while Google only holds 4% of the market share is because many businesses choose Amazon Web Services because they do not want or do not have enough money to build their own database systems. However, Google Cloud Platform is attracting many potential customers such as Coca Cola, HTC and Best Buy.

For Apple, reaching a deal with Google would put pressure on Amazon and Microsoft to lower their prices. A cut in iCloud prices for Apple customers is entirely possible, according to many experts.

According to VNE