Phone maker HTC, best known for its Android phones, but now slipping behind Apple and Samsung as a top phone maker, may be looking to grow its business by making some noise.
Specifically, the Taiwanese company could be putting together a music streaming service, "according to sources familiar with the company's plans," says GigaOM.
HTC introduced the Rezound model last fall, the first to come with Beats Audio, sound certified by hip-hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre.
Om Malik writes that:
My sources say that HTC, which last year acquired a substantial stake in Beats Audio, a company started by Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, is said to be working with Iovine, a music industry iconoclast to develop a streaming service that will be offered as a default music client on HTC phones and tablets. My sources say that the company is still working on pricing plans and other details. It has long harbored ambitions of offering a music service on HTC devices, folks familiar with HTC say.
HTC isn't commenting on the report. The streaming business is certainly booming, both for music and video: Verizon recently announced it will start a video streaming service this year with Redbox, and Google may offer its own home entertainment system that would stream music to Google-made speakers.
Related stories:
- Google readying home entertainment system: report
- Verizon to set up streaming service with Redbox
- HTC Rezound sound test: It's crisp and clear
- HTC Rezound brings Dre's Beats to the VZW
- The best streaming music services (and how to pick one)
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