Apple is planning to bundle the Beats Music streaming music service it bought earlier this year into its iOS operating system from early next year, bringing the subscription service to hundreds of millions of potential users.

The move will place pressure on Spotify and other streaming music services, and will represents Apples first big attempt to integrate Beats into its operations since it purchased the company from Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine.

According to the Financial Times, the inclusion of the paid-for Beats service with an iOS update could happen as early as March. Integrating Beats with other iOS functions could well make the service appealingly smooth for consumers, with subscription possible with just one touch of the iPhones fingerprint scanner.

While Spotify remains the dominant music streaming platform in many markets, it has recently faced criticism from high-profile artists like Taylor Swift, who pulled her catalogue from its ad-supported service over the amount of money passed on to recording artists.

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