Cupertino, Calif. - Apple will close its stores from noon to 3pm EST today so employees can attend an online memorial to company founder Steve Jobs.

According to published reports, Apple CEO Tim Cook sent an email detailing the plan. The event will be held at Apple headquarters, here, and webcast to staffers worldwide. Several stores contacted confirmed the closing time.

No details of what will transpire were released.

A private ceremony for Jobs was held last week at Stanford University. Reportedly in attendance were Microsoft's Bill Gates, Oracle's Larry Ellison, former president Bill Clinton and U2's Bono.

Jobs died on Oct. 5 at 56 from pancreatic cancer.