Apple's iAd Staff Preparing For New Ad-Supported iRadio Service
by Joe White
June 4, 2013
Apple's iAd engineers and sales staff are reportedly preparing to support the launch of the company's anticipated music-streaming service, "iRadio," according to Bloomberg. As such, it would appear that the Cupertino, Calf. company is continuing to strive for a near-immediate iRadio announcement, potentially at its forthcoming WWDC 2013 keynote.
Last weekend, we heard that Apple had signed off on an iRadio deal with Warner Music Group, signifying that the company is edging ever-closer to finalizing its Pandora-like product. The report claimed that despite setbacks, Apple is nevertheless hoping to announce its new product at WWDC 2013, the keynote address for which is scheduled for June 10.
Now, in a report from Bloomberg, in which the publication cites "people familiar with the changes," Apple's iAd team is also said to be preparing for the forthcoming launch of the service:
Apple intends to make its new radio service free to users and supported by advertising, similar to how Pandora’s mobile app works, people familiar with the plans said. The new service will be different from Apple’s iTunes in that the songs played won’t be limited to what a user has purchased, and listeners won’t own the songs they stream for free.
The shift in iAd’s focus to buttress the music service is being made by Eddy Cue, the senior vice president who oversees iTunes, App Store and iAd, as well as Todd Teresi, whom Apple hired last year from Adobe Systems Inc. to lead the company’s advertising business.According to the report, while iRadio is set to be announced at WWDC 2013, the product itself will rather be released alongside the public launch of iOS 7, several months later. With support for iAd included Apple will not only further promote its mobile advertising platform, but the company will also be able to make its iRadio service free for customers, as previously expected. We'll keep you updated with further information on iRadio as it becomes available. In the meantime, for some of our most recent news, see: Apple Now Offering In-Store iPhone 5 Screen Repairs For $149, Draw Something Creator OMGPOP To Shut Down Following Zynga Layoffs, and Feedly Is Preparing For Life After Google Reader.
