MP3 Veteran Predicts ‘Cloud-based iTunes’ in 2010

Ed Sutherland ()

MP3 Veteran Predicts ‘Cloud-based iTunes’ in 2010

Apple may fully convert iTunes from a software-based application to a cloud service in 2010, thus stalling rivals and solving the problem of pesky license tug-of-war fights with music publishers, an online music veteran suggested Tuesday.

Citing “a wide variety of insider sources,” Michael Robertson, founder of MP3.com and CEO of MP3tunes, said Apple this year will leverage its recent purchase of music streaming service Lala to convert iTunes to a fully cloud-based operation. “The Lala upload technology will be bundled into a future iTunes upgrade which will automatically be installed for the 100+ million iTunes users with a simple ‘An upgrade is available…’ notification box,” wrote Robertson on TechCrunch.

Rather than building the technology in-house, the Lala acquisition permits Apple to quickly transition from a software business to a cloud service, the online music expert reasons. However, although the service will be cloud-based, iTunes consumers will still be able to buy music and videos as they are now. Once purchased, though, the material will be automatically uploaded to the mobile iTunes where it can be accessed from anywhere and from any device.

The new approach will “sidestep new licenses from the major labels,” which Robertson said are wary of Apple. Because the music is owned by the users, Apple won’t need to negotiate new license deals with record publishers.

Already, signs are evident that Apple is moving in Robertson’s direction. Earlier this month, we reported Apple had begun offering 30-second sound clips on its browser-based iTunes Preview site. That site, quietly introduced in November of 2009, allowed people to browse song titles without requiring they install the iTunes software.

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[Via TechCrunch]

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About the author

Ed Sutherland

Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.

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  • sharpeteacher

    So does most believe that is the purpose of the new server farm in North Carolina?

  • Charli

    i think that the server farm will be for a number of things, Mobile Me support and “LaLa” support included.

    as for this cloud thing.

    do I think that Apple will merge Lala and their whole apple id systems so as soon as you buy it is in the streaming system. heck yeah.
    do I think the whole itunes interface could go web based so you see the same structure through the itunes program and your web browser. yeah
    do I think they could set up a system where you could be in browser version, have the genius system picking songs you don’t own and after streaming it you could hit a button to buy it and it is downloaded to your computer if it is online and itunes is open or when you next have it that way. sure.

    but totally streaming where you can’t use your music in ilife etc, burn it on CDs use it on other PMPs and non connected ipods like the Nano and so on.
    No. Not for a few more years anyway.