Apple in Talks to Acquire LaLa; iTunes Streaming Up Next?
Posted 12/05/2009 at 7:23am
| by Matthew Tilmann
Apple has gotten into 'advanced' acquisition talks with Lala, according to
CNET, to acquire the digital-music service. Various news outlets like the
New York Times and
Wall Street Journal were even reporting late Friday that the two companies had struck a deal.
Apple usually does not comment on rumors or speculation according to Steve Dowling, Apple spokesman. Reps from Lala were not available for comment.
Lala's streaming-music site sells songs for 10 cents each, and allows users the capability to place their music library on the company's servers.
The terms as to what exactly Apple plans to do with the site are unclear for the time being. While this could mean iTunes streaming could be on the way, CNET sources said that Apple managers were interested in working with Lala's engineers to come up with "a payment and fulfillment system that could save Apple millions of dollars a year." Apple would also want Lala founder Bill Nguyen to come over as part of the deal.
