CNet is claiming Amazon is mere days away from announcing details of this locker solution after licensing talks with a number of major labels as well as Hollywood studios.
It writes, "Sources from both the film and music industries said Amazon is working on creating a cloud locker service that would enable users to store their existing music, film, and book collections, even content not purchased at Amazon, on the company's servers."
While Amazon still has to confirm deals, CNet notes its experience with digital movies (through Instant Video) and e-book sales (for Kindles) shows that it has already taken significant steps into the cloud and this will help in its negotiations.
Lockers will be a major issue this year in the digital music industry as a number of companies move to stake their claim. Google is reportedly well along the road to launching its own locker-based system, linking into its Android operating system, and is reportedly undertaking internal testing of it.
Apple too is expected to announce its own plans here soon, possibly involving its MobileMe platform. Rumours have been growing around iTunes' migration into the cloud since Apple acquired Lala at the end of 2009.
Meanwhile 7digital began testing its locker solution last year and even supermarket giant Tesco is making plans here.
The major sticking point, alongside issues of copyright protection, will be if and how recurring royalties apply in such instances. It is an issue where labels, publishers and services have still to find a common ground and this will undoubtedly shape any and all developments this year.
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