Within as little as a few months Apple may begin to provide newspaper subscriptions on the iPad through a new digital newsstand service similar to the iBookstore, according to MacRumors.com. Bloomberg is also offering some insight into this highly anticipated subscription service that may turn a corner for magazines and newspapers hoping for a digital revival of their industry:
Apple Inc. is developing a digital newsstand for publishers that would let them sell magazines and newspapers to consumers for use on Apple devices, said two people familiar with the matter.
The newsstand, designed particularly for the iPad, would be similar to Apple’s iBook store for electronic books, said the people, who declined to be identified because the negotiations are private. The newsstand would be separate from Apple’s App Store, where people can buy some publications now, they said.
The parties involved are still haggling over the particulars such as pricing and revenue sharing, so it’s not a done deal just yet. But Apple is also offering developing tools to support news content and server technology to help newspapers get ready for the new “iNewsstand”.
If Time Warner Inc., Conde Nast, Hearst Corp, News Corp and other news media giants come to an agreement with Apple, thew new subscription service may not be available until the next-generation iPad comes to market in early 2010.
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