“Apple Inc. is in talks with record companies to give iTunes customers easier access to music they’ve purchased across multiple devices, said three people with knowledge of the plans,” Adam Satariano and Andy Fixmer report for Bloomberg. “Apple is negotiating with music companies including Vivendi SA (VIV)’s Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group Corp. and EMI Group Ltd., said the people, who asked for anonymity because the talks are private,” Satariano and Fixmer report. “An agreement may be announced by midyear, two of the people said.”
“The arrangement would give users more flexibility in how they access purchased music. Apple and the record labels are eager to maintain demand for digital downloading,” Satariano and Fixmer report. “A deal would provide iTunes customers with a permanent backup of music purchases if the originals are damaged or lost, said the people. The service also would allow downloads to iPad, iPod and iPhone devices linked to the same iTunes account, they said. The move would be a step closer to universal access to content centrally stored on the Internet.”
Satariano and Fixmer report, “The new download policy is among several service changes Apple is exploring. The company has also weighed plans to overhaul its MobileMe service for storing pictures, videos and other content online this year, one of the people said. Under one plan for MobileMe, the service that now costs at least $99 a year would become free. Apple will be able to accommodate newly overhauled services with a new $1 billion data center in North Carolina.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We’re getting there, even if it is taking longer than it should because Apple has to drag a bunch of Neanderthals kicking and screaming into the future.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Edward W.” for the heads up.]