Apple Putting iTunes on a Phone?

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2004/09/10/microsoft_sees_music_opportunity_in_cell_phones/' target='_blank'>http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2004/09/10/microsoft_sees_music_opportunity_in_cell_phones/</a><br /><br /></div>I was posting a story on Smartphone Thoughts when I came across this line in a news story:<br /><br /><i>"Microsoft will battle with Apple, which last month signed up Motorola to build in new cell phones a slimmed down version of the music player and piracy protection used in the iPod."</i><br /><br />What does that mean exactly? Apple is putting the iTunes music player on a Motorola phone, one that will sync with iTunes in the same way an iPod does? If so, that's a <i>big deal</i>, because it represents Apple shifting towards taking a smaller slice (10% profit on a song) of a much bigger pie - the 650 million handsets sold each year. Has anyone else heard of this?

[Mojo Jojo]

Actually, yes. The deal with motorola was announced around... end of July begnning of August timeframe I believe. It was a busy time for news posts however.

Its another start of Apple making the market larger then just the iPod, which is always good for them. Skeptics are unsure or doubtful that it will be successful or add anything to the iTunes formula, I however disagree.

With 'midi-like' downloads for current cell phones doing very well for business, actuall songs seems like the next direction especially combined with the cross over of regular playback options. With cellphones becoming a staple these days for teens and business folks alike I see this as a good thing for Apple.

[James Fee]

I believe Motorola is the only company that Apple has granted a license for Fairplay.

Of course this isn't news to Digital Media Thoughts readers... ;)

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6046