Apple and Google Rumored to Be Pushing Into New Digital Media Markets
Apple and Google have become the dueling titans of the technology sector and both companies are counting on their digital media services and marketplaces to push the adoption of their different OS and cloud platforms. Recent rumors have both companies closing in on establishing new digital media services.
In the case of Apple, the focus is on streaming movies. Apple is reportedly negotiating with movie studios to enable iCloud to serve as a digital media locker for movies purchased on iTunes, similar to the recently launched UltraViolet.
However, according to “people familiar with the matter” it could allow Ultraviolet access on iThings via app, while also bringing its usual media lock-in magic by also throwing in streaming copies of any flicks purchased on iTunes, but only on its own hardware.
Google, on the other hand, is working the music angle and negotiating with music labels to open an MP3 store that would tie into Google Music as a digital media locker. Of course, these are properly pretty tricky negotiations given how Google launched Google Music Beta while thumbing its nose at labels.
According to sources within the industry, the platform, not surprisingly, would be directly linked to Google Music Beta and may launch within the next few weeks — perhaps even before Apple unveils iTunes Match, at the end of this month. It remains to be seen, however, whether Big G will be able to finalize negotiations with record labels and publishers before launching the initiative in earnest — a potentially major hurdle, considering Google’s recent track record.
At first glance, this may not seem like a case of Apple and Google going head-to-head, but make no mistake, these are the opening rounds. The two companies are sizing each other up and neither company will feel complete prepared to go toe-to-toe until they have put in place a service for every media format and a digital locker service to back it up. Apple has the head start with iTunes and a more consolidated locker with iCloud, but Google has shown before that it knows how to engineer its way into the big leagues. Just ask Apple what it thinks of Android coming late to the party and eating its way through the buffet.