Sony is latest label to sign up for Apple’s iCloud

20 May 2011

Sony is the latest big record label to join up with Apple’s licensed music locker for the cloud, joining EMI and Warner in enabling users to access their music collections from mobile devices and computers.

It is understood that a deal with Universal is also on the cusp of being signed.

Apple is planning to launch a fully licensed cloud music service that will compete with unlicensed cloud locker offerings from Amazon and Google.

In recent weeks, Apple completed work on building its online music storage locker – effectively an iTunes for the cloud.

iCloud to be unveiled at Worldwide Developers Conference

The new service is expected to be unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference on 6 June and will be known as iCloud.

Having the four labels on side and with content available via a quality platform only Apple could deliver could provide the music industry with the legitimate platform it has been praying for to combat piracy.

Apple’s ambitions may go further than music and could, and could soon include TV and video content aimed at rivalling YouTube, Netflix and Hulu.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com