Apple has completed work on an online music storage service and is set to launch it ahead of Google, whose own music efforts have stalled, reports Reuters citing several people familiar with both companies' plans. Apple's plans will allow iTunes customers to store their songs on a remote server, and then access them from wherever they have an internet connection, said two of these people who asked not to be named as the talks are still confidential. Apple has yet to sign any new licences for the service, and major music labels are hoping to secure deals before the service is launched, three of the sources said. Apple has not told its music partners of when it intends to introduce its music locker, they said. Separately, All Things Digital reported that Apple has signed two of the top four record companies, and Apple content chief Eddy Cue was due to be in New York on 22 April to try and finalize agreements with the two still unsigned labels. An Apple spokesman declined to comment. Two of Reuters' sources said Google originally wanted to launch a basic locker service and an 'iTunes-like' store. In recent weeks it has suggested exploring licensing for a subscription service, they said. Talks are ongoing with major music labels including market leader Universal Music Group, owned by Vivendi, as well as Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI Group. A source familiar with Google's talks told Cnet that the company had started talking to Spotify in recent weeks on supporting the service. The talks have coincided with an inability by Google to reach agreements with the four top record labels on licensing a cloud music service.
