12p off each download to your iPod

Last updated at 11:44 03 April 2007


Music lovers could soon be charged 12p less to download songs to their MP3 players.

Apple currently makes customers in Britain pay 79p per song from its iTunes store, 12p more than it charges in Europe.

The European Commission has threatened to fine the company more than £300 million if it does not change the policy in two months.

The commission is conducting an inquiry into sales of downloaded music in response to a complaint by the consumer group Which?.

It said: "Consumers are restricted in their choice of where to buy music, and consequently what music is available and at what price."

The commission has also written to the major record companies including Universal, Warner, EMI and Sony BMG over the pricing policy.

If Apple takes no action it could be fined up to 10 per cent of its turnover, about £323 million.

Apple is also to start selling music that can be played on all MP3 players, not just the iPod.

This is viewed as a high-risk strategy because customers will no longer have to own an iPod to buy from the iTunes store.

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