Restricting iTunes to iPod fine say majority

Stan Beer
Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:23

IT Industry - Strategy

A majority of internet users responding to a poll have voted against forcing Apple Computer to open up iTunes to other MP3 players besides iPod.

In an iTWire poll, the question was asked: Should Apple be forced to make iTunes compatible with portable players other than iPod? Of 580 respondents, 327 (56.4%) answered No, while 253 (43.6%) answered Yes.

At present, there is a major push in Europe, led by a bloc of Scandinavian countries to force Apple to open up iTunes to the wider MP3 player market given its near monopoly market position. However, Apple and others argue that the company built up its iTunes and iPod business in a highly competitive market, so the company should not be required to open up its intellectual property.

If nothing else, the relatively small sample of respondents indicates that there is significant support for Apple’s position among the user community.