iTunes only recently began offering previews of songs inside regular web browsers, but Apple could be looking to expand on that with the recent purchase of LaLa. Now a new report claims it’ll be for browser based streaming, so you’ll be able to listen in on any computer, even your locked down work PC.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple has snaffled up LaLa to implement full song streaming from iTunes within the web browser. Currently you can only see what songs are available and click a link to open up the purchase page in the iTunes app.
Apple buys LaLa – iTunes streaming on the way?
If Apple opened iTunes in this way, it would open up its catalogue to even more customers, as results, buy links and even song streaming snippets could appear in search engine results.
The WSJ also says Apple is considering a similar payment model for iTunes to the one LaLa uses, where you pay a small sum to stream certain songs as many time as you like. In an age where Spotify lets you do that for free for millions of songs, but with ads, that could prove a difficult idea to sell, at least in Europe where Spotify is currently available.
The report says Apple’s plans are in the early stages, so don’t expect any change overnight, but don’t be surprised if iTunes doesn’t stay inside the iTunes program for too long.
Out TBC | £TBC | Apple (Via Brand Republic)
