Apple to Offer Unlimited Music Plan?

[Hurmoth]

Apple to Offer Unlimited Music Plan?

Financial Times reports that Apple is currently in discussions with music companies to allow customers to have unlimited access to the entire iTunes music library in exchange for paying a premium for its iPod and iPhone devices (presumably for the life of the device).

The plan sounds similar to Universal's Total Music plan in which the cost of music is embedded into the music player itself. Based on the wording of this article, it seems Apple's version of the plan adds the cost on top of the iPod or iPhone.

The negotiations are currently being held up due to disagreements in pricing. Apple is reportedly only offering $20 per device, while Nokia is playing almost $80/handset for a similar plan. Other possibilities appear to include a subscription based service for iPhone users ($7-8/month, for example) with the capability to keep up to 40-50 tracks/year even after the subscription lapses.

Historically, the Financial Times has been a reliable source of information with early details of Apple's plans to introduce iTunes Movie rentals well ahead of its release.

[panicswitched]

id consider using said service though id need to get a ipod again lol

[sundayx Veteran]

All you can eat apples... mmmm

[Hell-In-A-Handbasket]

depending on the price, id be game

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Good step, next thing is to offer some proper encoding options!

[Rappy Veteran]

I think I would be interested been reluctant really to buy music from itunes yet dunno why just have.

[trek]

I think if the price is only $7 or 8 a month for unlimited downloads, quite a few people would be intrested (I would)

[1Frothy]

But until Apple drops DRM, they won't have me as a customer.

[Crazysah]

I am totally with you there Frothy!

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

DRM or lack of DRM isn't the most important factor for me, But I'd love more iTunes Plus music available.

Great codec (AAC) and encoding options (256Kbps), and no DRM.

[BigBoy]

Hmmm... so Apple is coming around and will offer what Zune owners already have, with Zune pass? Plus, a lot of Zune Marketplace is already in unprotected MP3 format (not the subscription stuff though).

[(Spork)]

depending on the price, id be game

indeed

[#Michael]

Well I have been in the market for a new mp3 player. Not exactly happy with my sandisk. I was thinking of a zune but I will have to watch this and see what it brings.

I have always been everything anti-ipod but if it had a subscription service then maybe it might change my mind.

[tiddlie]

I think this has been something that would always appear, what with alot of competition already doing similar.

[Julius Caro]

In Spain we already pay a tax on all kinds of media that can store "copyrighted material". Blank dvds cost up to 200% more because of this. (ipods, hard drives, dvd burners, scanners, printers too!)

So I already pay. Where's my music?!?!?

[0sit0]

I dont want to cause a war in here but isnt this the same as Zune Marketplace subscription?

[bdsams Veteran]

I think if the price is only $7 or 8 a month for unlimited downloads, quite a few people would be intrested (I would)

Same here I'd be willing to pay that for unlimited access

[REM2000]

I dont want to cause a war in here but isnt this the same as Zune Marketplace subscription?

which in turn the same as other online music subscriptions which have come and gone.

Sounds an interesting idea though, like to see the figures :)

[Typhon]

Napster+Tune Bite=no DRM mp3s

[sbauer]

I've been using amazon.com. MP3 format, no DRM and the download program can integrate with iTunes. I'm not sure how the selection compares with others, but they've had what I wanted.

I'd like to see an unlimited plan. Not sure I'd go back to iTunes though.

[dead.cell]

iTunes needs a bigger library first...

[Hurmoth]

I personally love iTunes. It is the only music software I use and buy from now. So here's to getting an unlimited subscription plan :pint:

iTunes needs a bigger library first...

Who has more digital music, videos, and audiobooks than iTunes?

Music = over 6,000,000

Audiobooks = over 20,000

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of...ne_music_stores

Edited March 19, 2008 by Hurmoth

[Smigit]

Not sure I'd personally be game given that if I ever have or want to swap service your sort of stuck with Apple unless they offer DRM free content. That or redownload potentially thousands of tracks on another service. Still, I guess for those that use iTunes a great deal anyway it's not a bad idea overall.

[Hell-In-A-Handbasket]

even though i said id be game, forgot to add

depends on abilities also,, as i have/will be against subscription plans, but so far there are extreme limits on what can be done after you cancel/during subscription.

depends on how Apple/iTunes goes about it, if its a double digits a month and you cant burn/1device/gone@cancle then i more then likely wont

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

Apple do offer DRM free content, just not lots of it (due to the labels)