Rumour round-up
Apple's new MobileMe service that is expected to launch in April, is rumoured to include a ‘locker' for iTunes music.
The Music Void reported that sources said Apple has finalised a deal with Warner Music Group plus other labels to get music agreements ready in time for an April launch that is believed to allow people to store music and entertainment from iTunes in the cloud.
The site's sources reckon the MobileMe service will cost around $20 a year, in a slight change to previous rumours that said the service would be free.
There have been recent reports that Apple is working on a cloud-based iTunes music streaming service that would back-up songs and films purchased through its online store platform. In fact, it is thought the company is in a race with Google, which is also believed to be busy inking deals with music execs to launch fabled Google Music, another cloud-based service.
If the rumours prove true, iTunes customers buying into MobileMe will be able to retrieve songs from the cloud if the originals are lost. The Music Void's sources also reportedly said that MobileMe will allow downloads to iPod, iPhone and iPads linked to the same iTunes account, which could prove handy.
Apple has long been rumoured to be planning a music streaming service after buying Lala and apparently building a giant data centre in north Carolina.
Meanwhile, CNET [via 9to5Mac] has reported that Amazon is also racing to offer a digital locker solution for entertainment downloads and is also talking with music and film execs to get the service off the ground. In fact some commentators reportedly reckon it could beat Apple and Google in the race.
Apparently if the service goes ahead, Amazon customers will be able to store their music, film and book libraries on the company's servers including media not bought from the giant etailer.
While it is thought that Amazon hasn't inked all the industry deals yet, an announcement about the rumoured service is apparently imminent.
