Los Angeles - Apple is planning to add a number of independent label catalogs to the offering at its iTunes Plus store, which offers DRM-free music tracks, and lower the cost of all tracks sold at the store from $1.29 to 99 cents, Ars Technica reported, citing "people familiar with the matter."

Apple launched the iTunes Plus store in May, offering major label EMI's catalog as 256 Kbps AAC files without the digital rights management (DRM) software featured on songs sold at the regular iTunes Store -- which regulates how they may be copied and transferred.

The reported move from Apple, expected to happen this week, according to Ars Technica's sources, could in part be a reaction to the launch of Amazon.com's music store, which sells songs as MP3s without DRM for between 89 and 99 cents.

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/yop6ru (Ars Technica)