Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple has begun a search to find senior-level executives for their cloud services. According to the report, Apple already has one Internet entrepreneur in their sights, but it hasn’t been disclosed who. To assist with their search, Apple is also reportedly looking into hiring out a recruiting firm to find solid talent.

The hopes in finding new leadership for their cloud products is undoubtedly to strengthen Apple’s already existent iCloud, but to also build new web-based applications. The report mentions that Apple is working towards building these web-based applications to limit the amount of hardware a single person needs on them at one time. The details aren’t final, though lower-level positions have already been filled to begin work. Arguably, Apple has already begun this push with iCloud.

To assist with their movement to the cloud, Steve Jobs announced the new data center was operational in North Carolina during this year’s WWDC. The data center is home to powering all of Apple’s current cloud services, like iCloud, and presumably will power what’s coming up next.

It’s obvious that Apple will need to begin an aggressive attack on the cloud if they want to be on terms with where Google’s currently headed. It will be interesting to see how Apple will attack making web-based applications, and what else they plan to do in the cloud — but it seems they’re already off to a pretty solid start.

  • Apple may allow users to merge iTunes, iCloud logins (9to5mac.com)
  • Apple releases iWork for iOS and iPhoto for Mac with full iCloud support to developers (9to5mac.com)
  • Apple Stores begin iCloud and iOS 5 training, may hint at imminent launch (9to5mac.com)
  • Apple CEO Tim Cook promotes iTunes/iCloud chief Eddy Cue to senior VP of Internet Software and Services (9to5mac.com)
  • Apple securing rights to put Hollywood Blockbusters in the iCloud (9to5mac.com)
  • Apple negotiating international iCloud music rights? (9to5mac.com)
  • Apple releases OS X 10.7.2, introducing iCloud to the desktop (9to5mac.com)