We’ve heard this one before but a new report suggests that Apple is close to launching its iTunes subscription service which will bring unlimited music to your computer, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
According to the New York Post, the negotiations are underway for this iTunes subscription service. The news that Spotify is coming to Windows Phone 7 supposedly spurred the talks, although one would have to wonder how much of a threat Spotify is to Apple because it has yet to launch in the United States.
One source said the service could have tiered pricing ranging from $10 to $15, although there are issues to be ironed out, including how much music would be included in each tier and how long consumers would be able to access that content.
The Apple iTunes subscription service looks like it will be similar to the Zune Pass service: pay a monthly fee and get as much music as you want. It’s unclear if an iTunes subscription service would enable downloads to an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch for playback when there’s no Internet connectivity.
The Apple iTunes subscription move has been highly anticipated ever since the company acquired Lala. It has also been thought that the company doesn’t want to rush the product out the door because it also wants to eventually include multimedia as well.
In essence, this could eventually turn an Apple iTunes subscription into a digital locker for all your content that you can access from any computer, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. This would eliminate the need for a ton of on-board storage and it would also lock you in further to the Apple ecosystem.
It’s getting tough to keep hearing these rumors, especially as services like Rdio and Rhapsody already deliver streaming music and downloads with a monthly fee. Steve Jobs’ company does hold much more sway than these third parties, so we’ll keep an eye on this as it develops.
[Via NY Post]