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Apple to offer unlimited access to iTunes store?

19 March 2008 5:19 by Matti "Siggy" V�h�kainu | 10 comments

According to Financial Times Apple is in talks with big music companies to use a completely new business model for iTunes. The kind of "all you can eat" model would give premium iPod or iPhone owners free access to the whole iTunes music library.

The plan would be that customers pay for the music library access when they buy their iPod or iPhone, the same kind of model that Nokia has branded with the new Comes with Music service. The first Nokia Comes with Music device will arrive in the second half of the year.

Even though Apple representatives did not comment on the business model, sources said that they were negotiating over the price that Apple would pay to their music industry partners for every sold device. Nokia was said to pay almost $80 while Apple hasn't offered more than $20.

According to an executive, a research has shown that a consumer would pay up to $100 for an unlimited access to music and $7-8 for a monthly subscription. The monthly subscription would work with iPhones because customers have a monthly billing Period and the "comes with music" or "all you can eat" model would work on both iPhones and iPods.

The new business model could be just what the music industry needs and could even boost the sales of next generation Apple devices.

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Discuss this article!
amf0802 (Junior Member) 19 March 2008 8:43
I might would sell out and by a cheap ipod if it had unlimited access to Itunes. [ + quote]
dsgtrain (Member) 19 March 2008 10:06
I've got a feeling this IS the answer to internet piracy. *Originally posted by amf0802:* I might would sell out and by a cheap ipod if it had unlimited access to Itunes. Aggred. I'm not a fan of Apple, quite the opposite infact but this could just about make me actually buy a iPod! [ + quote]
TSRSteve (Newbie) 19 March 2008 10:18
Will it be like Napster, where you have to maintain an account in order to be able to use the files? I would hope not but what would keep someone from downloading a ton of music and then canceling the service? [ + quote]
SProdigy (Member) 19 March 2008 11:05
*Originally posted by TSRSteve:* Will it be like Napster, where you have to maintain an account in order to be able to use the files? I would hope not but what would keep someone from downloading a ton of music and then canceling the service? I'm assuming it would be just like Napster, but then again, what's the problem with Napster's "idea"? $12-$15 a month is the price of ONE CD, and you can keep 1000's of songs on your player? Sounds like a deal to me. Of course, the only problem with Napster, is lack of support from some artists for their subscription model, which I'm sure iTunes will have better support for. Then there's always FU4WM and QTFairUse out there to help us out with purchased tracks. Yes, I do believe this "should" be part of the answer for piracy. The problem is, people have been getting their music "free" for so long, they'll still sneer at a subscription model, even if it costs $2. Ultimately, Jobs should make sure he doesn't price it any higher than $10. [ + quote]
TSRSteve (Newbie) 19 March 2008 11:47
*Quote:* I'm assuming it would be just like Napster, but then again, what's the problem with Napster's "idea"? I used napster for a while and the only problem I had was that I own a few different mp3 players and I didn't always keep them connected to my pc. So after a while the songs wouldn't play because of the drm codes or whatever it is. This was a little aggravating when I was out somewhere and I couldn't listen to my music. The same with my iPod, I might go a month or so before I reconnect it to my pc. I'm not saying it isn't a good idea, because it is. But like you said why are people going to pay when you can get it for free. [ + quote]
Pop_Smith (Senior Member) 19 March 2008 14:29
Add $100 to an already way over priced music player just so you can have unlimited music for it? No thanks, because knowing Apple the music will be the DRM-Filled version. If they offer a truly unlimited DRM-Free plan, even for $100, it might be worth it to buy another iPod when mine dies. However, there is always a catch to this, its either DRM-filled or its only unlimited for a specific amount of time (i.e. 6 months-1 year). If its truly unlimited (forever and its DRM-Free) then that would probably be worth it. Peace [ + quote]
sgriesch (Junior Member) 19 March 2008 19:17
*Originally posted by Pop_Smith:* Add $100 to an already way over priced music player just so you can have unlimited music for it? No thanks, because knowing Apple the music will be the DRM-Filled version. If they offer a truly unlimited DRM-Free plan, even for $100, it might be worth it to buy another iPod when mine dies. However, there is always a catch to this, its either DRM-filled or its only unlimited for a specific amount of time (i.e. 6 months-1 year). If its truly unlimited (forever and its DRM-Free) then that would probably be worth it. Peace If it were a limited time "download" like Napster, it's a crap deal. But, if it were a full download (write to CD) that would be fine. Even it were DRM crippled, it always can be bypassed. (Everyone remember JHymn already takes off I-tunes DRM - prime example) They need to offer all the downloads in a higher quality (no less than 192kbs). I would pay a $1000 (1-time fee) to be able to have any new song in high quality (changes as technology changes), and be able to use it anywhere. Try that model I-Tunes, and I'll even by a Mac from you. [ + quote]
fgamer (Member) 20 March 2008 2:00
This sounds like crap to me, it's still infested music with DRM and no true "unlimited" access! [ + quote]
nprfan (Newbie) 25 March 2008 13:14
Would you really subscribe to an all-you-can-"eat" cassette audio quality store? Where's the lossless? I.E., FlAC, etc. Give me this deal with lossless and I'm all over it. Otherwise, forget it. [ + quote]
fisherjon (Newbie) 2 August 2009 23:46
Over a year later and still no unlimited access :( Not to mention the US iTunes store is the only good one - all the other country stores suck (except for UK store I guess). For people outside the US though, you can get content from the USA store by using iTunes Access - www.itunesaccess.com [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 2 August 2009 23:48