Filed under: Audio, Business, Internet, Apple
Apple considering subscription option for iTunes?
Take this with a spoonful of salt. No, make that a bucket. INTENT MediaWorks CEO Les Ottolenghi tells CNNMoney that his digital distribution company has been meeting with Apple, and that Apple is seriously considering offering iTunes customers the option of paying a monthly subscription rather than just buying music by the song or album.
Of course, given how close to the vest Apple likes to play big announcements, we wouldn't put too much stock in this guy's prediction that Apple will make an announcement within the next six months.
Not to mention the fact that iTunes is still the 800lb gorilla of online music and video stores. While subscription based stores like Napster and Rhapsody have struggled to make money, iTunes has done a pretty good job of selling music and giving customers reasons to buy iPods.
That said, Apple didn't necessarily need to partner with EMI to make DRM-free music available either. It's possible that the company is looking into the future and trying to meet the demand it expects to rise for various services like unencrypted music files, and perhaps even subscriptions.