Apple’s Music Stream Isn’t Flowing…Yet

Dubbed iRadio by analysts and technology journalists but never given an official title or announcement, Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) attempts to create an Internet-based radio stream akin to Pandora (NYSE:P) have been put off until summer at least, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Originally, the service was supposed to have launched early this year, but continuing negotiations with music companies have pushed that date back. According to music executives then and now, Apple wants to preload an app on its mobile devices that can deliver a free stream of songs tailored to each user’s taste and supported through its iAds advertising platform, The New York Times reported.

If that were to happen, it would be the largest threat that Pandora has seen yet to its market share. Pandora dominates the Internet radio field with more than 65 million regular users, and is the number two most downloaded app on Apple’s app store, behind Facebook (NASDAQ:FB).