Rhapsody to support Macs

RealNetworks today will announce a new , which will bring support for Macs and Linux-based devices. The company will support a variety of browsers, including Safari in an effort to expand the reach of its flagship subscription music service Rhapsody, according to Dow Jones. Real's first major announcement since settling its lawsuit with Microsoft in October will include a a "Web-based service called Rhapsody.com, which allows existing Rhapsody subscribers and new users access to streaming music via browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari. Previously, Rhapsody subscribers had to access the service by launching software on Windows-based PCs.,,,, Real is the market leader for subscription music products, ahead of Napster and Yahoo. As of the company's last quarterly report, Real claims 1.3 million paying subscribers; Napster reported 448,000 subscribers in November. Yahoo does not break out its music subscription numbers."

The report also says that In the coming weeks, Rhapsody.com will be also available within Microsoft's Windows Media Player 10 and that the MSN Networking will use Rhapsody Web Services to integrate Rhapsody into its MSN Search, MSN Messenger and MSN Music services--as a part of the Microsoft settlement.

Dow Jones also reports that Real will also offer a downloadable upgrade to its existing Rhapsody software. For Rhapsody To Go subscribers, the new version will feature improved functions for transferring tracks to portable music players, including those from SanDisk. There are now over 70 Rhapsody To Go compatible devices on the market, according to the report.

by MacNN Staff