RealNetworks has submitted its Rhapsody app for the iPhone and iPod touch to Apple for review and, if approved, will offer on-demand streaming music to subscribers over Wi-Fi, Edge, and 3G.
According to Gdgt, the app will give you access to all of Rhapsody's 8 million tracks and all of its radio stations. You will also be able to create playlists on the fly, or if you already have an existing Rhapsody account, you can sync the app with it and listen to playlists you have already created or browse music you have saved. The one large downside is that in its current form, the app isn't able to store songs for offline playback, which means if you don't have a connection via Wi-Fi, Edge, or 3G, you won't be able to use the app. RealNetworks has stated that they do intend to add this functionality in version 2.0, that's if it even gets approved in the first place, which is a relatively large if.
Rhapsody does have a couple of things going for it that may help it get approved over that other subscription-based music streaming service. Rhapsody's app doesn't cache music, which means that Apple may not see it as much of a threat since it constantly requires a connection. The app also contains "Buy" links that go straight to the iTunes Music Store, not Rhapsody's own music store, which Apple may see as a friendly gesture.
The app will be available for free, but it will require a $15 per month Rhapsody To Go subscription to use.
