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Real Networks submitting Rhapsody music service for iPhone. Duck!

Now this will be interesting to watch. RealNetworks, not always best of friends with Apple, is submitting an iPhone app so subscribers can access the Rhapsody music service.

The app is designed to be full-featured, and will let Rhapsody subscribers get easy control of the on-demand music service. Real Networks has described the app's operation on its Rhapsody blog:
You'll see a menu bar across the bottom of the screen, as is found in many apps. You'll have the option to check out the queue, your library, browse the Rhapsody library (ahem, all 8 million + songs of it), search, and settings. The app has all the functionality of the client, or Rhapsody.com, only super portable.
The Rhapsody app is designed to stream music over 3G, EDGE or Wi-Fi networks. If approved, it will require a Rhapsody To Go account, which is US$15.00 per month. Spotify, a similar European music service, also has an app awaiting approval for the iPhone.

Apple already allows the Sirius/XM app, which is a different, but still a paid subscription service, and of course Pandora, Last.fm and other streaming music services.

All these apps are competition to iTunes, so the world will be watching to see if Apple draws the line with RealNetworks, or keeping a careful eye on the FCC, approves it.

Now this will be interesting to watch. RealNetworks, not always best of friends with Apple, is submitting an iPhone app so subscribers can...
 

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Brad

I don't think Apple will see this as a real (coincidence) threat if only because you still have to be connected to a network to use Rhapsody, and mobile streaming doesn't have as many benefits as the iTunes Store and the iPod app.

For example - iPod Touches will have to be within range of WiFi and iPhones will have to restart the app whenever they get a phone call (unlike using the iPod app). Not to mention that users will discover quickly that mobile streaming eats battery life rather quickly. I use Pandora regularly on my way home from work, so I'm not trying to say that the iTunes Store is the only source for music, but I've found that my battery is almost dead after 45-60 minutes of solid 3G music streaming after a days worth of use.

Anyway, what am I trying to say? Oh yeah... Apple will probably approve this app as long as it doesn't try to download music directly to the iPod library, since then it's really no more than Pandora or Sirius/XM. In some sense, it almost seems like Real hopes Apple won't; adding fuel to some future antitrust lawsuit.

August 25 2009 at 4:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nick

Rejected because it duplicates the features of the "phone" function (i.e., you press a button and sound comes out). Customers could be confused by this.

August 25 2009 at 12:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
anas

is that to be waiting so long for buffering when using Rhapsody?

share, thanks

August 25 2009 at 11:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
david amodt

They'll never approve it.. Unless iTunes goes subscription it's the only game in town. Real is pissed it lost it's realdvd case and now reaching for this. Ron glazer needs to sell real to Msft and then retire. Who uses the real player anyways?

August 25 2009 at 3:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jbrown510

I far prefer Pandora myself...

...but I wouldn't be surprised is Apple rejects it. After all it duplicates the functionality of iTunes and would cause customer confusion... wouldn't it?

August 25 2009 at 2:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Shawn

Isn't Rhapsody something that Verizon pushes quite a bit here in the states? Am I just reading (hoping) too much into this?

August 24 2009 at 8:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mmgm

Pandora is my favorite music app for my ipod touch, it works just like it does on the pc, great for music lovers - create your own stations and it's very good sound quality.

check out my blog, and let me know what you think
http://music-movies-games-more.blogspot.com/

August 24 2009 at 7:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Steven

a lala.com iphone app would be a hundred times better to have.

August 24 2009 at 6:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Steven's comment
jonathan

totally.
i am also a lala fan. unfortunately, according to lala, their iphone app is in rejection purgatory, not knowing its fate since november of '08.

August 25 2009 at 12:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mendelini

WANT.

August 24 2009 at 5:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kenfagerdotcom

I won't be ::buffering:: instal ::buffering:: ing anything from Real ::buffering:: ::buffering:: Networks anyt ::buffering:: ime soon. ::buffering::

August 24 2009 at 5:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to kenfagerdotcom's comment
Huck

Hilarious! ('Cause it's true.)

August 24 2009 at 5:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
TACH

LOL Funny, because its true! LOL

August 24 2009 at 9:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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