Apple has approved Real Networks’ Rhapsody application for the iPhone and iPod touch. The new app will allow subscribers of the Rhapsody service to queue songs from the service’s 8 million tracks, and create custom playlists that will stream directly to their device over cellular or Wi-Fi connections at 64 kilobits per second.
New users will have a seven-day trial period before needing to sign up for a $15 a month subscription; Real Networks plans on adding a feature that would allow users to load songs onto their devices for offline playback in an update later this year. “This breaks us out of the non-Apple MP3 player segment and now we can reach the iPod Touch and iPhone audience that was unavailable to us before,” said Neil Smith, vice president of business management for Rhapsody America.
Real’s Rhapsody application is expected to hit the App Store in the next few days and will be a free download.
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