RealNetworks hopes to launch Rhapsody app for Apple iPhone, iPod touch

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“RealNetworks says it has developed an iPhone application that brings the Rhapsody music service to the iPhone and iPod touch,” Arik Hesseldahl reports for BusinessWeek.

“Since Rhapsody is, by a reasonable argument, a competitor service to Apple’s own iTunes — it’s both a music subscription service and a pay-for-download store — it will be interesting to see if Apple in this case, uses a variation of the argument that has so far kept Google Voice off the iPhone: That a Rhapsody app replaces a core function of the iPhone — purchasing and listening to music — and thus shouldn’t be allowed,” Hesseldahl writes.

MacDailyNews Note: The current Rhapsody offering costs US$12.99/month.

Rhapsody on iPhone:

Direct link via YouTube here.

“In its current form, I would expect the Rhapsody app to be approved. There are already streaming music applications on the iPhone like Pandora and Last.fm and countless streaming radio applications. But Rhapsody lets you get the very song you want right now, rather than just streaming songs you like,” Hesseldahl writes. “The argument could get more complicated when the next version of the application ships. That’s the one, RealNetworks says, that will support downloading to the phone.”

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Apple should fast-track the Rhapsody app approval so it can be ignored by iPhone and iPod touch users, too.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “qka” for the heads up.]

Related articles:
Microsoft, RealNetworks, Yahoo sued by music labels – July 02, 2009
Real opens DRM-free Rhapsody MP3 store as music cartels continue to collude against Apple – June 30, 2008
RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser out $9.8 million as ‘Air America’ goes bankrupt – October 14, 2006
RealNetworks shares drop 9-percent on weak forecast – February 15, 2006
Microsoft to pay RealNetworks $761 million antitrust lawsuit settlement – October 11, 2005
RealNetworks says ‘Harmony’ hack once again compatible with all Apple iPods – April 26, 2005
RealNetworks launches new Rhapsody services, gives away 25 songs per month – April 26, 2005
RealNetworks ‘Harmony’ stops working on iPods but nobody notices for a month and a half – December 15, 2004
Apple’s latest iPod updates render RealNetworks’ ‘Harmony’ songs unplayable – December 14, 2004
Analyst: Rob Glaser’s ill-advised war against Apple ‘is going to bite RealNetworks on the ass’ – August 30, 2004
Forbes: RealNetworks not smart to pick fight with Apple Computer; loyal Mac legions swarm – August 20, 2004
Petition to RealNetworks to cancel ‘Freedom of Music Choice’ publicity stunt garners large response – August 18, 2004
RealNetworks desperate music play won’t grab very big slice of Apple pie – August 17, 2004
RealNetworks debuts replacement ‘freedom petition’ omitting comments – August 17, 2004
RealNetworks to debut ‘iPod-as-padlock’ ads – August 17, 2004
RealNetworks launces ‘Freedom of Choice’ campaign with song downloads for 49 cents – August 17, 2004
Is RealNetworks crashing Apple’s music party? – July 30, 2004
RealNetworks issues statement about Harmony Technology and ‘creating consumer choice’ – July 29, 2004
Spurned by Apple, RealNetworks cozies up to Microsoft for portable music – April 29, 2004
RealNetworks urges Apple to license Fairplay DRM; wants to form ‘tactical alliance’ in online music – April 15, 2004
RealNetworks caught between Microsoft rock and Apple hard place – April 08, 2004

20 Comments

  4. @towertone
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    Reply

  11. MDN, thanks for the credit.

    I agree it should be approved. If nothing else, it should finally settle the purchase vs. rent argument. One platform, one environment. All other variables removed, to use the lingo of experimental design.

    Reply

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