Amazon MP3 app for iPhone, etc.

GOING MOBILE: In what could prove to be a significant move, Amazon's browser-based MP3 store has been optimized for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, allowing users to more easily purchase songs through their mobile Safari browsers, AppleInsider reports. Music purchases through Amazon are automatically saved to a user's Cloud Player library and can be downloaded or played instantly from any iPhone, iPod touch or iPad using the official Amazon Cloud Player app. By contrast, while Apple has a dedicated iTunes app on iOS devices for selling content, users have to open a browser to purchase through Amazon because of Apple's App Store rules. "Since the launch of the Amazon Cloud Player app for iPhone and iPod touch, a top request from customers has been the ability to buy music from Amazon right from their devices," Amazon Music VP Steve Bloom enthused. "For the first time ever, iOS users have a way do that—now they can access Amazon's huge catalog of music, features like personalized recommendations, deals like albums for $5, songs for $0.69, and they can buy their music once and use it everywhere." Amazon is hyping such features of the app as immediate availability and seamless playback of purchases, and free storage of all Amazon MP3 purchases in the Cloud Player. (1/17a)