‘iTunes Unlimited’ to make it’s debut at September 9th Special Event? – [Updatedx2]

Posted on August 31st, 2008. Written by Arron.

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[Updatex2 - Apparently Not]

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Recent Claims
Earlier in the month Kevin Rose, founder of Digg outlined what he thought the outcome of Apple’s September 9th special event, would be. Among the claims were a minor re-design to the iPod touch, bringing with it the addition of a GPS module. Also expected is a major overhaul to the iPod nano, bringing with it a more curved profile. Now all this is great, but the claim which seems to have been overlooked is the possible introduction of a monthly subscription option for iTunes purchased music. iTunes Unlimited …

In March 2008 the rumors were revived by The Financial Times, and If this claim is true, we can expect:

- 256 Kbps music; highest quality digital music subscription service ever
- 50% of U.S. store available for iTunes Unlimited at launch, U.S.-only at launch
- Available through iTunes or retail box a la MobileMe, funds applied through iTunes gift cards cannot be used towards subscription purchase
- $129.99 stand-alone or $179.99 with MobileMe, current MobileMe subscribers can add iTunes Unlimited for $99.99
- One-year subscription period
- Current a la carte options unchanged
- When signed in to subscription account, “Buy” is “Get”
- “Download and Play throughout iTunes Unlimited Subscription” or “Buy and Keep”
- “Buy and Keep” option available for downloaded subscription songs, purchased version replaces subscription version
- Late October launch with iTunes 7.8 or 8.0

How would it work?
The rumored service would involve the user paying Apple an annual subscription charge of $99.99, and for that you could download as much unrestricted music as you like. – I so want this. I’ve just bought Cineworld Unlimited (Cinema subscription) for this exact reason. iTunes on it’s own, with separate music purchases becomes very expensive, very quickly. Paying a subscription fee everything’s sorted for the year. A lot of people want this option, but it would have to be an ‘option’. If Apple were to introduce this service as the only way to buy music from iTunes, I think they’d lose half their current customers.

[Update] – 31.08.08 (16.40pm GMT)

One reader ‘David’ notes:

“Your subscription only gets you all these songs as long as you keep paying it … as soon as you stop, you can kiss goodbye to the music bought through the subscription. If you want to keep the music forever, you need to buy it, and that is an additional cost to your subscription …”

Could iTunes 7.8/8.0 actually introduce iTunes Unlimited? – We’ll see. Personally I think it’s been a long time coming, and feels like a missing piece to the iTunes and iPod ecosystem.

What do you think? – Will iTunes Unlimited get it’s debut this year?

I certainly hope so.

R-Fly

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