Apple has finally launched a music streaming service that allows users to stream music over the internet – the first time in recent years that the company has been behind the eight ball. The site, which according to inside information will allow iTunes customers access to a “digital locker”, will automatically store songs bought through Apple’s music store. In essence, it’ll allow you to stream songs which you have already bought on iTunes and have stored on your computer or iPod. This will pose a significant threat to streaming sites such as Spotify and We7, both of whom are survivors in the streaming caper but have only recently started making a profit.
Only a few weeks ago Apple announced the closure of Lala.com, a music site which it bought for about $US80 million ($89.2m) in December 2009.
Lala’s software allowed people to store their own music libraries online and play songs through a web browser, alongside any new tracks they purchase. Music business commentators suggest that Apple has used Lala’s engineers and software to design the ‘cloud’ storage system.
