Apple iTunes Radio Global Launch Set for Early

In our yesterday’s post about pros and cons of iOS 7 we discussed Apple iTunes issue. The service is currently available for the United States users only, though in the nearest future it might hit a number of other English-speaking countries.

What is Apple iTunes Radio

As a reminder, iTunes Radio is a free, ad-supported Apple music streaming service built into the latest version of iTunes software and iPhone/iPod music player. With the help of this service, you are free to build your own radio stations based on different music styles, genres or moods, or simply listen to curated stations.

For the first time the new Apple music streaming service went life on September 18th. Even though it’s a rather new service, it already counts about 11 million users!

Apple plans to improve the service, letting users to be aware of the new artists/singles/albums ahead of their official release. The fruit company wants to make access to your favorite tracks much easier while clicking through the iTunes Store right from your gadget, finding the singles you like and making purchases right away.

Apple iTunes Radio Global Launch

Report goes that Apple is planning to expand its service by early , reaching the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The fruit company plans to expand ahead of Pandora service, most likely reaching Nordic countries as well.

Apple’s key competitor Pandora service might roll out in the abovementioned regions later because the Cupertino company has already signed international rights deals with Universal Music Group and a number of other record companies.

Apple Inc. plans to expand iTunes Radio to English-speaking countries outside the U.S. by early , beating industry leader Pandora Media Inc. to the U.K. and Canada, people with knowledge of the situation said.

ITunes Radio is also set to start early next year in Australia and New Zealand, where Pandora already operates, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t public. Nordic countries are also being targeted in the same time frame, the people said.

Though Apple iTunes Radio is currently limited to the US only, users in other countries can skirt restrictions with a US iTunes account, according to Bloomberg.

Apple plans to make its service available in about 100 countries worldwide. As per the Cupertino company senior vice president of Internet software and services Eddy Cue, the international launch of iTunes Radio is “a top priority for the company.”

What do you feel about Apple music streaming service? Would you recommend it to your friends or there is a better option available? Share with us in comments below.

Related Posts

Tags: iTunes iTunes Radio Pandora

  • Chopper

    this is better than pandora I hate pandora. I live in Canada and making the service available here is a big plus for Apple