Josh Ong
Apple appears to be putting the final pieces in place for the long-rumored cloud-based iTunes music service. CNet's Greg Sandoval reports that Apple's negotiations with Sony Music Group and Universal could wrap up as early as next week, according to music industry sources.
Last month, Sandoval reported that Apple and Warner Music Group had reached an agreement for an unannounced iTunes cloud service. A separate report suggested last month that Apple had already procured deals from at least two of the four major music labels.
Finalizing licensing deals appears to be the final step for Apple, as a recent report suggested that Apple had completed work on a cloud-based iTunes music streaming service. Sandoval's industry sources have said that Apple's cloud solution is expected to be vastly superior to competing services from Google and Amazon.
Both Google and Amazon decided to launch their "digital locker" music services without renegotiating licenses with the labels. As such, Google's service is unable to sell music and Amazon faces a potential backlash from rights holders.
Mounting evidence suggests that Apple will use the name 'iCloud' for the new service, though AppleInsider has heard that iCloud will be more than just music. Sources said the new service will also serve as a revamp of the company's existing MobileMe service, allowing storage of contacts, calendars, photos and video.
According to one report, Apple purchased the iCloud.com domain for an estimated $4.5 million from the Swedish company Xcerion.
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11 Comments
Why would a company not think licensing would be an important first step? Wish I could ask the execs at Google and Amazon.
Otherwise this bodes well for "icloud". Should be a good service.
What should we expect from this service?
Why would a company not think licensing would be an important first step? Wish I could ask the execs at Google and Amazon.
Otherwise this bodes well for "icloud". Should be a good service.
Amazon did previously received favour from the record labels to help weaken the hold iTunes Store. Google might think they are the labels last hope to bring down iTunes Store.
Plus both Amazon and Google have done very little to make their media lockers any different than a place to store content. Amazon allowed a folder to be a playlist and Google took that and allowed your content to be automatically created like iTunes Genius Playlists.
I have to think what Apple is doing is much more in-depth.
Why would a company not think licensing would be an important first step? Wish I could ask the execs at Google and Amazon.
Otherwise this bodes well for "icloud". Should be a good service.
Because they are arrogant. In Google's case, they want everything to be free undermining the value of anything delivered over the web. In Amazon's case, they think price is the best way to compete thus their deep discounts on music, and trying to give the service away for free. Both are destroying the true value and the perceived value in other people's products.
Apple on the other hand... ROCK AND ROLL!
My sources haven't been given any details but they suspect that this Sunday AM meeting stuff is related to whatever this service is. They believe that it will be announced at WWDC or released during that week or the one just after.
And they believe that they will be given advance details under threat of immediate termination so that the staff can learn the service inside and out to push it on customers.
Either that or Apple could pull a fast one and actually release it on Sunday. 3 out of 5 major labels signed onto the music side of it isn't a shabby opener, especially if the other two are 'this close' to joining in.
Zune Pass for iTunes?