APPLE JUICE

Lots of Apple action in the tech and financial sectors.

Apple won’t take the wraps off of its upcoming Beats-based streaming service at its March 9 “Spring Forward” event, but will instead unveil it—possibly in beta form—at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, music industry sources briefed on the launch timeline told 9to5Mac. This bit of news that has gotten widespread pickup despite previous informed speculation about a June launch. The story also reiterated the monthly subscription rate at $7.99 per month, which undercuts the present pricing for Beats Music, Spotify and Rdio.

The service was initially planned for launch earlier in 2015, the story continues, but was delayed by the departures of key employees, as well as difficulties integrating Beats human and technology resources into Apple. Some Beats execs, including Bobby Gaza, who was SVP at Beats in charge of technology, have departed Apple in recent weeks.

9to5Mac also reported that AppleCare will begin providing support service for Beats Music customers as well as businesses interested in accepting Apple Pay, citing sources. Support for Beats products has slowly been integrated with Apple’s customer support channel for its products and services since Apple bought Beats last year, the story pointed out, having recently reported that Apple would begin offering online chat support for Beats hardware. Apple has steadily been moving its outsourced support systems for Beats products in-house,

Additionally, Apple will join the Dow Jones Industrial Average later this month, replacing AT&T, its original and ongoing iPhone partner.