Apple in talks for unlimited music downloads, not streaming

March 4, 2011 7:14 AM
Devindra Hardawar
Add a Comment

I hope Apple announces its new plans for digital music purchases soon, because I’m getting tired of the constant speculation. This time around, it seems Apple is negotiating deals with record companies to allow customers to download music they’ve purchased across multiple devices, Bloomberg reports.

Such a change would lead to more flexibility for users, since they’ll be able to download music they’ve already purchased on their iPhones or iPads without syncing with their computers. But it’s still no music streaming service — one that would allow consumers to listen to music streaming over the web, instead of downloading — which has been the main thrust of iTunes revamp rumors since Apple purchased streaming music company Lala in late 2009.

Bloomberg’s sources say Apple is negotiating the unlimited download deal with music companies including Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, EMI, and Vivendi Universal.

In addition to letting users access their music collections without synchronizing to their computers, the download deal would also serve as an unlimited backup for users’ music. Additionally, it could serve as a stepping stone to a future iTunes music streaming service. Apple would need a robust infrastructure to let users stream media without interruption, and offering unlimited downloads would be a first step towards providing that.

Photo via Cerebro Humano on Flickr

  • http://twitter.com/#!/TheJulior @TheJulior

    This certainly seems like a foot in the door, a way to ease the media companies into streaming.

  • http://resumecvservice.com/ professional resume

    sounds quite good, but when will it eventually happen? agree with the author, [...] I’m getting tired of the constant speculation [...] – those are true words

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RO3KFR76TPTQK67OJMPYIDHA4Y Michael D

    How is this unlimited downloading? This is just making it less annoying to transfer previously-purchased music to different devices, something any college kid with napster and an MP3 player could do almost 10 years ago. I'm so shocked that the music industry is suffering with this type of forward thinking.

  • http://blog.gameagent.com/2011/03/04/week-in-review-feb-26-%e2%80%94-march-4/ Week in Review: Feb 26 — March 4

    [...] Apple may be developing a system where customers can download music they’ve purchased across multiple devices. [...]

  • http://venturebeat.com/2013/04/12/apple-streaming-music-service-one-step-closer-to-reality-as-deal-with-universal-music-group-imminent/ Apple streaming music service one step closer to reality as deal with Universal Music Group ‘imminent’ | VentureBeat

    [...] despite the fact that Apple streaming music service rumors  have been around for well over two years, and that fact that over 200 million people are using iTunes in the cloud, the music giant [...]

  • http://latestwire.com/2013/04/12/apple-streaming-music-service-one-step-closer-to-reality-as-deal-with-universal-music-group-imminent/ Apple streaming music service one step closer to reality as deal with Universal Music Group ‘imminent’ | Latestwire

    [...] despite the fact that Apple streaming music service rumors  have been around for well over two years, and that fact that over 200 million people are using iTunes in the cloud, the music giant [...]

  • http://musicrss.com/apple-streaming-music-service-one-step-closer-to-reality-as-deal-with-universal-music-group-imminent/ Apple streaming music service one step closer to reality as deal with Universal Music Group ‘imminent’ « Music RSS

    [...] notwithstanding a fact that Apple streaming song use rumors  have been around for well over dual years, and that fact that over 200 million people are regulating iTunes in a cloud, a song hulk doesn’t [...]

  • http://www.thecapitals.com/apple-streaming-music-service-one-step-closer-to-reality-as-deal-with-universal-music-group-imminent/ The Capitals™ – Capitalists' Magazine | 資本家札記 | Apple streaming music service one step closer to reality as deal with Universal Music Group ‘imminent’

    [...] despite  rumors for well over two years that Apple is going to launch a streaming music service, and the fact that over 200 million people [...]

  • http://www.fortsec.com/apple-streaming-music-service-one-step-closer-to-reality-as-deal-with-universal-music-group-imminent/ Apple streaming music service one step closer to reality as deal with Universal Music Group ‘imminent’Information security & technology news

    [...] despite  rumors for well over two years that Apple is going to launch a streaming music service, and the fact that over 200 million people [...]

  • http://henq.net/2013/04/apple-streaming-music-service-one-step-closer-to-reality-as-deal-with-universal-music-group-imminent/ Apple streaming music service one step closer to reality as deal with Universal Music Group ‘imminent’ | HenQ Venture

    [...] despite  rumors for well over two years that Apple is going to launch a streaming music service, and the fact that over 200 million people [...]

blog comments powered by Disqus