iTunes downloads reach five billion

Apple claims to have sold more than five billion songs on its iTunes music store.

The company said that it had reached the milestone just 10 months after hitting three billion songs, and only 27 months after hitting the one billion download mark.

Apple now estimates that its complete music catalogue, which includes DRM and non-DRM tracks, now numbers roughly eight billion songs.

Earlier this year, the company reported that it had overtaken retail chain Wal-Mart as the single largest music retailer in the US.

The company also reported that its iTunes movie service is now serving some 50,000 downloads a day.

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs highlighted his determination to revive the flagging movie service during this year's Macworld keynote when he rolled out a new rental service along with a list of new studio partners.

The company launched the iTunes movie store in the UK earlier this month.

See also:

Archos and Jamendo offer free downloads

DRM-free music downloadable directly to player  12 Jun 2008

UK universities offer lectures via iTunes

One more reason for the slackers to stay in bed  06 Jun 2008

BSkyB chairman slams BBC over iPlayer

James Murdoch lashes out at 'abrogation of responsibility'  28 Apr 2008

ITV to sell classic shows on iTunes

Archive of hit programmes available via online store  25 Apr 2008

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