The iTunes Store is an online media store launched in 2003 and run by Apple. It allows users to purchase and download music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, audio books and games. Pricing varies by content type from $0.99 per song to $14.99 per movie. The store has sold over 4 billion tracks and reached many milestones in its first years such as selling 1 billion songs by 2006. It supports playback and syncing of content on iPods, iPhones and Apple TV.

2. The iTunes Store is an online media store. The store is run by Apple Inc. On the 28 th April 2003 the iTunes Music Store was launched. Renamed the iTunes Store on the 12 th September 2006.

3. Content Music Full-length Movies TV shows Podcasts Games Audio books

4. Pricing Music - €0.99 per track - €8.99 per album Full length Movies - €9.99 - €14.99 TV shows - €1.99 Podcasts – free Games - €4.99 Audio books - varies

6. Milestones First 18 hours sold 275,000 tracks First 5 days sold over 1,000,000 tracks In 9 months sold over 25 million tracks First year sold 70 million tracks In February 2006, sold 1 billion songs

7. Milestones In July 2007, sold the 3 billionth song and moved into the top 3 of music sellers across the internet In February 2008, moved into top 2 50 million customers Over 4 billion tracks sold to date 20 million songs sold on Christmas day in 2007

8. Features Gift certificates and cards Celebrity play lists Advanced search Billboard charts

10. New Features Rent movies HD quality American Idol performances iTunes producer Free album artwork

11. iTunes producer Free software Convert own tracks to ACC Add artist and album name and artwork Send to Apple Could be available for download from iTunes Discount on all Apple products if under the iTunes label

12. Devices iPod (shuffle, nano, video, touch) iPhone Apple TV

13. iPods All media can be easily synched to from iTunes Play games downloaded from the iTunes store Surf the iTunes store with the iPod touch

14. iPhone Surf the iTunes store through Wi-Fi Download all media and games

15. Apple TV Stream media directly from iTunes to your TV Wireless connection Supports HD

16. Music Retailers Second only to Wal-Mart 10% of the market In 2007, P2P file sharing and CD sales fell while legal music downloads grew

17. Social Networking In June 2007, Apple and Bebo combined Now Bebo users could buy song from iTunes without leaving the Bebo site

18. DRM (digital rights management) FairPlay songs (encoded) Can only make a maximun of 7 CD using songs got from iTunes Can only view songs from iTunes on 5 computers

19. Advantages Wide range of media Excellent quality media User friendly Good layout Virus protected Free podcasts Free song every week

20. Disadvantages Must have iTunes Need a credit card or set up pay pal DRM (digital rights management) Some artists are unavailable Only works with Apple devices and some Motorola phones

21. References Cheng, J 2008, ‘ Kids don’t like CD’s: iTunes store now #2 music retailer’, viewed 7 March 2008, < http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080226-kids-dont-like-cds-itunes-store-now-2-music-retailer.html > Cheng, J 2007, ‘ iTunes Store rings up to 3 billionth song ’, viewed 7 March 2008, < http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070731-itunes-store-rings-up-3-billionth-song.html >

22. References Boutin, P 2006, ‘ Live from the Steve Jobs Keynote – “It’s Showtime ”’, viewed 9 March 2008, < http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/12/live-from-the-steve-jobs-keynote-its-showtime/ > Dalrymple, J 2008, ‘ Apple now No. 2 music retailer in the U.S .’, viewed 9 March 2008, < http://www.macworld.com/article/132259/2008/02/musicretailer.html > Cheng, J 2007, ‘ iTunes gets into social networking sales through Bebo ’, viewed 9 March 2008, < http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/06/13/itunes-gets-into-social-networking-sales-through-bebo?rel >