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Rhapsody Goes Public With Pending iPhone App

rhapsody jh Rhapsody Goes Public With Pending iPhone App

Simply stated: RealNetworks has developed an iPhone application that brings the Rhapsody music service to the iPhone and iPod touch.

RealNetworks unveiled their latest endeavor here, plus video demonstration. But here’s where the fun begins. Right now it’s unclear whether or not Apple will even approve the Rhapsody application or not. The application will be submitted this week.

To grease the wheels a little, Rhapsody is linking instant song purchases to iTunes, not the Rhapsody store.

Real vice-president Neil Smith says Rhapsody won’t be competing with iTunes.

“We find that the ability to stream music only gets people to consume more music, not less,” he says.

Rhapsody’s mobile app will require that users hold a Rhapsody-to-Go account, which currently runs .95 per month.

The application, which will run on both the iPhone and iPod Touch, allows Rhapsody subscribers listen to any of the 8-plus million tracks the service offers, call up saved albums and tune into any of Rhapsody’s ready-to-go playlists.

In Sunday’s Blog post revealing Rhapsody’s plans, Lacy Kemp had this to say about why the new App was so cool:

…if you’re a Rhapsody subscriber you already understand the benefits of an on-demand music service. But, until now, nothing exists like this exists here in the states. There is nothing quite as satisfying as needing to hear a certain song RIGHT NOW and being able to scratch that itch.

That’s what we aim to do, and now it’ll be easier than ever. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve wanted to hear a song on my iPhone and guiltily plopped down $.99 to iTunes to please my impatient self. When I first used the Rhapsody app it seriously felt like the sun shone a little brighter that day. Music matters that much.

If Apple gives Rhapsody the green light (we’re assuming a ‘yes’) look for similar services like Spotify and Napster to quickly hop to it, eager to get in on the Apple fun.