Rhapsody to launch assault on Apple iTunes: while embracing iPod

When it comes to digital downloads there is only one big boy in town for most people, and that is Apple iTunes. Will it looks like they are about to face an assault from the likes of Rhapsody, as this digital music reseller is about to launch a $50 million assault on Apple’s download service. Rhapsody will be offering songs available to download online via partners who include Yahoo Inc and Verizon Wireless.

According to Reuters, the songs which are available for download will be in MP3 format, so if you are using the Rhapsody service you will be able to play them on iPods. This is a new move from Rhapsody, as they only used to focus on a subscription service. This allowed people access to unlimited song streaming for $13 to $15 a month, unlike the download service which Apple does.

Rhapsody, which is jointly, owned by Real Networks Inc and Viacom Inc’s MTV Networks will have a tough time on their hands to take on the might that is iTunes. Rhapsody Vice President Neil Smith has said “The fact the service has not been compatible with Apple Inc’s top-selling iPod digital player has limited Rhapsody’s reach.” He also added “We’re no longer competing with the iPod, we’re embracing it.”

Rhapsody will have some great help along the way though, as it will be the music store back-end to MTV’s music Web sites as well as iLike, this is one of the most used applications that is used on the social networking site Facebook. Rhapsody will also be available on cell phones via the Verizon Wireless VCAST Music service; it looks as though Rhapsody is launching this assault on iTunes from every angle. If a buyer has purchased that song over-the-air on to their mobiles, they will then be able to transfer it on to their computer, which can then be transferred on to their MP3 player, or iPod.

Rhapsody is not the only player to try and launch an assault on Apple’s iTunes, who have a 70 percent-plus market share of U.S. digital music sales. Just last month Napstar launched an MP3 store, and last year Amazon.com Inc and Wal-Mart Stores Inc both launched music download stores. However; as yet none of these has made a dent in the market share of iTunes, so will Rhapsody be any different.

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