December 16, 2005
Apple axes 'iRingTones' project
Apple has canned a ringtone software project that was guaranteed to prove controversial, just weeks ahead of its slated announcement at MacWorld Expo next month, reports The Register in an exclusive.
"The project would have seen Apple move into the ringtone retail business in direct confrontation with cellular carriers, with whom Apple already has a stormy relationship.
"iRingTones", as The Register calls it, integrated ringtone downloads into the iTunes Music Store, and would have allowed users to remix ringtones before beaming them to the phone via Bluetooth.
... It's unclear whether cellular carriers were directly responsible for bringing pressure to bear on Apple, but what's in no doubt is that ringtone revenues form a significant part of the carrier revenues."
James Pearce on MocoNews doubts Steve Jobs backed away. "But maybe an incipient launch of a wireless iPod is making him rethink the situation.
Of course, if Apple was pressured into abandoning the service rather than giving it up voluntarily it’s equally as likely that the labels had something to do with it", writes Pearce.
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