iTunes for Android

The post iTunes for Android appeared first on MoTech Radio.

After years of staying away from Android, Apple is considering developing a version of iTunes for Android phones to rival Spotify:

Apple reportedly considering iTunes Store for Android phones

Apple’s iTunes store may still be one of the most popular sources for downloading cheap music, but you need an iOS device to take advantage, and that leaves a heck of a lot of smartphone owners out in the cold.  …

The project is probably being considered as an attempt to combat the decline in digital music purchases in recent years. This would, however, be a somewhat unusual step for Apple to take. Janko Roettgers explains:

“The idea that Apple would build an Android app for iTunes seems … controversial. Sure, Apple did bring iTunes to Windows, but that move was largely meant to increase iPad and iPhone sales. An Android app wouldn’t have such a clear purpose, and be more of an admission that around the world, Android handset sales have been stronger than iPhone sales.”

In the past, Apple has been a bit hesitant to jump on the Android phone bandwagon, but at this point it may be their only option:

Apple may launch streaming music service, bring iTunes app to Android

Apple reportedly is looking to boost its lagging music sales by adding an on-demand streaming radio service that would compete with Spotify, Rdio and Beats Audio. The company is allegedly talking to senior music label executives about this endeavor, reports Billboard, which cites as its source three people familiar with the talks. …

Back in 2007, Steve Jobs disliked the idea of a subscription-based music service, claiming that there did not seem to be a market for it and people that preferred to own their music:

Jobs says Apple customers not into renting music

Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs indicated on Wednesday he is unlikely to give in to calls from the music industry to add a subscription-based model to Apple’s wildly popular iTunes online music store. …

Is Jobs rolling in his grave over this development, or would he be glad to see his company develop with the changing times? Let me quote the above article:

“‘Never say never, but customers don’t seem to be interested in it,” Jobs told Reuters in an interview after Apple reported blow-out quarterly results. “The subscription model has failed so far.’”

It seems clear that the market has changed since 2007. Personally, I think Jobs would have readily consented to this development.