Apple's rivals seek to mimic iTunes model

NEW YORK: Several rivals of Apple Computer plan digital music devices to work closely with their own online music services, just as Apple’s iPods and iTunes do, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

RealNetworks on Monday plans to announce a deal with SanDisk to sell a digital music device that is designed to work with RealNetworks’ online music service, Rhapsody, according to The Journal.

That move follows one by Microsoft, which will release a digital music player this holiday season that will be coupled with its own online music service, the paper said.

Korea’s Samsung Electronics is working on a similar plan, the Journal reported. The deals are an effort by Apple competitors to improve coordination between online song sellers and digital-device makers.

Many consumers have been frustrated by glitches when they try to download songs sold by one company onto a gadget made by another, the Journal reported.