Apple to integrate song identification into iOS 8

17 Apr 2014

Consumer tech giant Apple’s next operating system, iOS8, will feature integrated song-identification software now that the company has partnered with Shazam Entertainment.

Bloomberg reported sources within the company as having said Apple’s partnership with Shazam will allow it to access the music-identification app’s algorithm, which can allow users to identify a particular track through identifying different pitches and tones from an audio clip.

The software is expected to integrate with Apple’s music-streaming service iTunes Radio, in what may be an attempt to bolster its position in the music-streaming market and give it an edge over competitors Spotify and Pandora.

A London-based company, Shazam is one of the most downloaded apps on both iOS and Android, with 90m users each month on iOS alone.

When users first get their hands on the new iOS, they will be able to access the song-identification feature through the device’s voice command, Siri, and won’t require any installation from the App Store.

As of yet, both Shazam and Apple have refused to comment on the matter, but more information may be forthcoming, as Apple is expected to unveil iOS 8 in June at its Worldwide Developers Conference.

Shazam image via Shutterstock

Colm Gorey was a senior journalist with Silicon Republic

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