MacAce, a Mac specialist ISP, has launched a new service dubbed MacMate service. It's designed as a replacement for Apple's MobileMe, which is being replaced by iCloud.

MacMate offers web hosting, cloud storage and email in one package. Its hosting capability allows multiple domains and one-click publishing from iWeb as well as drag-and-drop or FTP access to the webspace. The MacMate disk sits on the users desktop just like a real disk.

MacAce CEO Gary Hall says it's estimated that up to 250,000 Mac-users worldwide use the web hosting part of MobileMe and are anxious to find an alternative host for their site. MacMate addresses the growing complaints and calls from Mac fans to keep iWeb, Apple's popular one-click WYSIWYG web design program, in development and to continue their ability to create and publish a website within minutes, he adds.

iWeb will continue to work on Mac OS X, even on the upcoming Mountain Lion; what's more, Apple hasn't said they're abandoning the app; they just haven't updated it in a long time.

MacMate provides a solution for iWeb customers to switch their hosting. Additionally MacMate comes with 10GB of cloud storage as standard and three email accounts. Up to 100GB of cloud storage space is available and unlimited email accounts.

MacMate is available at a special introductory rate of US$89 per year with three months extra free. It and can be upgraded to 100GB and unlimited email addresses. Domain names can also be purchased on-the-fly and assigned to hosting and email instantly. MacMate is available immediately as a fully-working beta worldwide at http://www.macmate.me/. Activation is instant.