Coca-Cola turns to Apple for iTunes deal
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em — Looking to rebound from a failing music venture of its own, Coca-Cola is reportedly in talks with Apple Computer over an iTunes promotion to hype its new no-calorie cola.
Word of the deal comes less than a week after Coca-Cola said it would cease operation of its Mycokemusic.com download service, which launched in 2004 with a music catalog of over 250,000 tracks.
The service — once Europe's largest for legally downloaded music — buckled quickly following Apple's entrance into the region with its European Union iTunes Music Store.
According to data from U.K. market research company XTN, iTunes held a 54 percent share of the British online music market in November 2005 compared to 6 percent for Mycokemusic.
As part of its deal with Apple, Coca-Cola is also reportedly in talks to sponsor digital content that will be accessible through iTunes.
Insiders told DigitalBulletin the iTunes tie-up could help Coca-Cola maintain its edge in the competitive UK soft-drinks market.
Twice before, Apple has teamed with Coke rival Pepsi Co. in offering similar promotions in the US.
44 Comments
Coke Zero is AWESOME. Puts Diet Coke to shame. Now it's the only cola I drink.
Coke Zero is AWESOME. Puts Diet Coke to shame. Now it's the only cola I drink.
The name certainly is not attractive. I dislike any diet soft drinks... then again, I dislike most soft drinks...
Drink unsweet iced tea instead, that way you don't get cancer from your drink.
Instead you can get it from the mobile phones, toxic fumes quite prevalent in all major cities, microwaves or a ton of other things.
The only confirmed issue I have ever heard for diet drinks is that some people have a genetic condition that prevents the break down of one of the two amino acids that can form if the sugar replacement breaks down, the condition is called phenylketonuria if you're wondering.
Coke Zero just tastes like a mix of normal Coke and Diet. I still find it ick. Prefer Vanilla or normal, myself.