Apple Amassing Cloud Services Army?

Cloud services may be square on Apple's radar screen, as a recent job listing by the tech superpower indicates that Apple is looking to bring aboard engineers up to speed with the cloud.

The job posting indicates apple is seeking "Cloud Systems Software Engineer" for a full-time role in its Cupertino, Calif.-based headquarters. The job listing has since been changed to " Web Services Software Engineer," but in a screen capture of the job listing published by AppleInsider, Apple's Cloud Systems Software Engineer would "explore the far reaches of the possible by joining the team building the future of cloud services at Apple."

The listing, whether for a Cloud Systems Software Engineer or a Web Services Software Engineer, makes it clear that Apple recognizes the value of cloud computing and is building out its cloud strategy.

According to the job listing, the small team will write software that "forms the foundation" of some of Apple's "most exciting new products and services."

Apple is seeking out an engineer that has experience "designing, implementing and supporting highly scalable applications and Web services" and will "collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to define and implement some of the company's core backend platform frameworks and systems."

The Apple cloud job listing didn't mention exactly on which projects, products and services the Cloud Systems Software Engineer would work, but it could be a sign that Apple is gearing up to make good on the rumors of an upcoming cloud-based version of its popular Apple iTunes digital music and content service.

A cloud-based iTunes would rival the newly released Amazon Cloud Drive and Amazon Cloud Player, two cloud services launched by Apple iTunes rival Amazon that allow users to store music and other digital media in the cloud and access it from any device regardless. Along with Amazon, Google is also said to be prepping a cloud-based music service, and Google's acquisition this week of digital content syncing and streaming player PushLife further fueled those rumors.

Apple has also been said to be building up a new version of its MobileMe cloud storage service. Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal, reported that Apple will launch a revamped version of MobileMe sometime his year.

The MobileMe makeover cloud make the $99-per-year MobileMe offering a free service that would serve as a "locker" for digital media like photos, music and videos and eliminate the need to carry high-memory devices, The Journal reported, citing people familiar with the MobileMe improvements.