14 DAY TRIAL // After being the first to spread the information on a possible Apple migration towards Intel, Wall Street Journal drops another "bomb" related to the plans of the Cupertino company and to its iTunes stores.
Wall Street Journal says that Apple representatives have initiated talks with four of the companies that produce and distribute videoclips: Warner Music Group, EMI Group PLC, Vivendi Universal SA's Universal Music Group and Sony BMG in order to devise a system that will enable them to commercialize videoclips through the iTunes network, which has just reached the 500 million download threshold.
As usual, Apple spokespersons refused to comment and rated the information as being just a rumor.
This news comes to give more credibility to the rumors that talked about a video iPod, especially since Apple acquired a video chip produced by Broadcom a few months ago.
If Apple is indeed planning on getting involved in the distribution of videoclips, then it might have to deal with the competition coming from Sony, which announced a few weeks ago that it's studying the possibility to introduce a service similar to iTunes, but which specializes in video content.
Sony officials said then they are particularly thinking about offering a special movie renting service with Sony BMG products.
It remains to be seen whether Apple will indeed launch a video iPod video or it will just introduce videoclip distribution.