Apple closes music network Ping
After a little over two years, Apple is shutting down its unsuccessful music network, Ping. With Ping, Apple had hoped to create a platform where artists could communicate with fans and users could share their thoughts on music.
"Ping will no longer be available as of September 30," Apple announced on the network on Thursday night. With Ping, Apple wanted to create a platform through which artists could communicate with fans and users could exchange information about music. However, the lack of integration with Facebook, the world's largest online network, meant that the service remained a little-used niche offering.
Ping was originally supposed to have a Facebook link, but this was cut shortly before the launch in 2010. Facebook had set unacceptable conditions, Apple founder Steve Jobs told the blog "All Things D" at the time, without providing further details. One million users signed up in the first two days, but interest quickly waned.
The new Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted at the end of Ping back in May. Users had made it clear that they did not want to invest much energy in Ping. "Will we discontinue it? I don't know. I will think about it," Cook said at the time. Apple does not need to have its own online network to be active on the social internet.
Among other things, the relationship with Facebook has now improved significantly. Apple also wants to give musicians the opportunity to share photos with their fans directly in the next version of the iTunes multimedia software. (sda)
