Rival for iTunes planned by BSkyB

Following the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, BSkyB has announced the launch of a new online music service that will rival Apple’s iTunes.

Downloading music has become a very popular practice over recent years, and many people are now familiar with the iTunes service that is offered by Apple. However, following the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, communications, media, and broadband giant BSkyB has announced that it is launching a rival music service that consumers will be able to use to get the music that they want.

Reports indicate that the new music service from BSkyB will be bundled into existing subscription packages for customers taking television, broadband, and phone deals. Officials believe that BSkyB will charge a flat monthly fee that will enable customers to stream their favourite songs to a computer or television, and will also give them the chance to buy and save music that will be free of digital rights management restrictions.

Music specialist Omnifone will be teaming up with BSkyB in order to provide this new digital music service. Officials have said that the songs that are bought via the Sky service can be played on the Apple iPod and iPhone, as well as any other MP3 player.

Rob Lewis, CEO of Omnifone, said: “Tens of millions of European consumers are engaged in music piracy every day. Whilst government pressure is growing, we also need to deliver alternatives that recognise the needs and desires of the YouTube generation.” Officials from the companies are hoping that ofering this service for a fixed monthly fee that is competitive will help to reduce the problem with illegal downloading, which has been troubling the industry over recent years.