Real takes on Apple

RealNetworks today is expected to announced that users of its music subscription service Rhapsody will be able to . The New York Post says that the move that could threaten Apple's iTunes service: "Until now, the only subscription digital music service that allowed music to be played on portable devices was Napster's Napster to Go service. Such services could impact Apple's iTunes because they would offer cheaper access to a wide range of music that users can take with them on their portable devices. Rather than paying about $1 a track on iTunes to own the song, users of Rhapsody will essentially be able to rent everything available over the service for about $15 a month, a similar price to what users of Napster to Go pay." The new service will use Microsoft technology that essentially erases the music on portable devices if the user stops paying for a subscription, according to the report.

by MacNN Staff