August 24th, 2009
RealNetworks submits Rhapsody app to Apple
RealNetworks said Monday that it has submitted a Rhapsody app to for Apple approval. The move would bring a subscription music service to the iPhone and iPod touch.
In a blog post, RealNetworks said that it will submit the Rhapsody on-demand streaming music service for App Store approval. RealNetworks also plans to bring Rhapsody to the Android platform. The company also hinted it plans to “turn our sights on more mobile platform and carrier app stores.”
The natural question here is whether Apple will approve the Rhapsody app. Given the flap about Google Voice it’s a valid question. However, Apple has already approved a subscription music service app from Sirius XM. While the details are different, both services run you about the same a month—$15 or so.
Rhapsody on the iPhone reportedly won’t have offline capability yet.
Assuming Rhapsody is approved it will remain to be seen if the iPhone will generate additional subscribers for RealNetworks. Subscription music services make a lot of sense, but consumers generally prefer to download their tunes.
Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and Editorial Director of ZDNet sister site TechRepublic. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 08/24/09
