News & Information for Technology Purchasers
NewsFactor Network Sites:   NewsFactor.com Security CRM Business Sci-Tech Newsletters XML/RSS Feed  
   
Home Enterprise I.T. Hardware Software Communications More Topics...
Apple/Macintosh
Average Rating:
Rate this article:  
Apple Admits Spotify Streaming Music To the App Store Apple Admits Spotify Streaming Music To the App Store
By Jennifer LeClaire
August 28, 2009 10:40AM

    Bookmark and Share
Under federal scrutiny, Apple, Inc. has approved an app from Spotify, a streaming-music competitor to its iTunes Store. The Spotify app caches music on Apple's iPhone and iPod touch, as did Slacker, which was denied a place in Apple's App Store. Apple's approval puts the spotlight on Rhapsody's request for approval of a streaming-music app.
 

Advertisement

In what may be a move to appear like less of a walled garden, Apple approved the Spotify steaming-music application for the iPhone this week. Spotify announced the news Friday with gratitude for the iPhone maker.

Spotify offers legal and free access to a library of music through its streaming music player. The company's dream is to let everyone listen to whatever they want, whenever they want, and wherever they want. Getting its application into the iPhone App Store brings the company one step closer to a dream come true.

"Spotify on the iPhone will include many of the features our users enjoy on the desktop, with the added advantage of letting you listen to your playlists even when you haven't got a network connection -- for instance, when on a plane or the underground," said Spotify's Jonatan Littke.

Antitrust Concerns

Apple has previously allowed streaming on the iPhone, but this is the first time the company has allowed caching with a well-known music application. That puts the Spotify app in quasi-competition with the iTunes Store.

"If you are listening to streaming music with caching, in effect that's an all-you-can-eat model and you don't need iTunes, at least not for music. You would certainly need iTunes for video content," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. "Apple denied Slacker the right to cache, so this is interesting."

Enderle said Apple may be allowing Spotify to cache because of the increasing federal scrutiny of the company's practices. As he sees it, not allowing Slacker to cache its music was a competitive move, much like removing Google Voice from the iPhone. With the feds looking over its shoulder, Apple may be in the mood to loosen up its application-approval guidelines.

"Apple is being much more lenient at the moment because they don't suddenly want to be involved in an antitrust investigation. They would like those investigations to go away before someone takes control of the App Store away from them. I don't know if it will work because there's so much history of this behavior up to this point, but it certainly won't hurt Apple, and it should improve their image."

The Rhapsody Question

News of the Spotify approval comes on the heels of RealNetwork's application for a Rhapsody streaming-music app for the iPhone. Essentially, users would have access to millions of songs without taking up any storage Relevant Products/Services space on the iPhone. Analysts still aren't sure if Apple will allow Rhapsody on the iPhone.

"Rhapsody does cross over solidly into the iTunes space into the gamut of their offerings and they probably look at Real much more like a competitor than a dedicated streaming service," Enderle said. "While Spotify's approval doesn't ensure Rhapsody is going to get approved, it does improve the odds. It would be a clear indication that Apple is not being anticompetitive and that anybody can play on the platform."
 

Advertisement


Advertisement


 Apple/Macintosh
1.   Rumors Say Apple Tablet Delayed
2.   Apple Gets iPhone OK in South Korea
3.   Steep Mac Discounts Seem Unlikely
4.   Would You Pay for iPhone with Ads?
5.   Psystar Loses Mac OS X Challenge


advertisement
Apple Tablet Could Change PublishingApple Tablet Could Change Publishing
Content talks reported under way.
Average Rating:
Steep Mac Discounts Seem UnlikelySteep Mac Discounts Seem Unlikely
Rumors termed 'wishful thinking.'
Average Rating:
Would You Pay for iPhone with Ads?Would You Pay for iPhone with Ads?
Apple experiments with built-in ads.
Average Rating:
Product Information and Resources for Technology You Can Use To Boost Your Business

Enterprise Hardware

  Go Green with IBM Blade Center
  

Network Security Spotlight
House Lawmakers Push Ban on Peer-to-Peer Software
Stung by an embarrassing electronic leak revealing ethics investigations into dozens of lawmakers, Congress moved to prohibit federal employees from using the file-sharing software blamed for the disclosure.
 
GAO: Los Alamos Computer Security Has Weaknesses
Security weaknesses uncovered in Los Alamos National Laboratory's computer network increase the risk of a classified-information breach, says the Government Accountability Office.
 
Computer Security Firm Fortinet Plans IPO This Week
Fortinet plans to go public in an initial public offering, giving investors a chance to tap a network security provider with sales that are expected to grow. The IPO could be valued at $137.5 million or more.
 

Enterprise Hardware Spotlight
Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings
Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.
 
New Pogoplug 'Personal Cloud' Does Social Networking
Cloud Engines has released its newest version of the Pogoplug, a small "multimedia sharing device" that connects hard drives to the Internet and allows a user to access the files remotely.
 
Apple Tablet Rumored Delayed as Publisher Gears Up
There have been so many rumors of an Apple tablet that it has taken on legendary status. But now the legend is being revised with reports of a delay and that a major publisher is getting ready.
 

Enterprise Technology Spotlight
Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings
Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.
 
Smartphones: A Bigger Target for Security Threats
Smartphones are increasingly prevalent and adept at handling more tasks, including trading stocks, paying bills, and buying stuff online. That makes them attractive to thieves and hackers.
 
FBI Says Hackers Targeting Law Firms, PR Companies
Hackers are targeting law firms and public relations companies with a sophisticated e-mail scheme that breaks into their computer networks to steal sensitive data, often linked to large corporate clients.
 

Navigation
NewsFactor Network
Home/Top News | Enterprise I.T. | Hardware | Software | Communications | Network Security | Wireless Tech | Linux/Open Source
Apple/Macintosh | Microsoft/Windows | World Wide Web | Data Storage | E-Commerce | Personal Tech | Tech Trends | Press Releases
NewsFactor Network Enterprise I.T. Sites
NewsFactor Technology News | Enterprise Security Today | CRM Daily

NewsFactor Business and Innovation Sites
Sci-Tech Today | NewsFactor Business Report

NewsFactor Services
FreeNewsFeed | Free Newsletters | Free Whitepapers | XML/RSS Feed

About NewsFactor Network | How To Contact Us | Article Reprints | Careers @ NewsFactor | Services for PR Pros | Top Tech Wire | How To Advertise

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
© Copyright 2000-2009 NewsFactor Network. All rights reserved. Article rating technology by Blogowogo.