Amazon brings MP3 store to iPhone

Amazon has released a version of its MP3 music store client for Apple iPhone users.

The company said that the MP3 store client would support both the iPhone and iPod Touch handsets and would run through the Safari browser.

By running through the browser, Amazon is able to skirt Apple's thightly-controlled App Store admission process. Apple exerts stringent controls of its app approval process, making doubtful whether Amazon would have been able to gets its app through.

While the web-based application will require users to have an active internet connection to run, users are able to save the application directly to the iOS desktop as a web shortcut.

While Amazon had previously offered a player client for iOS, the new application will also support song purchases and customised content.

"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," said Amazon Music vice president Steve Boom.

"For the first time ever, iOS users have a way do that – now they can access Amazon’s huge catalog of music, features like personalised recommendations, deals like albums for $5, songs for $0.69, and they can buy their music once and use it everywhere."

Amazon is not the first company to use the web application trick to circumvent Apple's App Store controls. Google has long used the techniques to offer its own web services, many of which compete with Apple's native iOS software.

The relationship between Amazon and Apple has been testy at best lately. The two companies remain locked in a legal battle over their respective online app stores. The two sides were recently ordered by a judge to attempt to negotiate a settlement to end the legal proceedings.