At Build earlier this year, Microsoft announced that the software giant is working with Apple to bring iTunes to the Microsoft Store. The app was supposed to launch on the Microsoft Store later this year, but there hasn’t been any word regarding the launch ever since the initial announcement. In fact, both the companies–especially Apple–have been quite tight-lipped about this thing.

Today, Apple is finally clearing things up. The company has confirmed that it won’t be releasing iTunes on the Microsoft Store later this year and that it still needs a “little more time” to get things ready. “We have been working with Microsoft to deliver the full iTunes experience to our customers and we need a little more time to get it right,” an Apple spokesperson told Mary Jo Foley. Cupertino declined to disclose the exact reason behind the delay.

Apple Music is a core part of the iTunes app for Windows, and with Groove Music Pass set to completely shutdown later this year, launching the app before Christmas would possibly work out well for both the companies. Microsoft did, however, partner with Spotify to transfer Groove Music Pass subscribers, which means it’s possible Apple isn’t too happy with Microsoft’s move. Or maybe it’s just a hard computer science problem.

Plus, Apple is only bringing the existing iTunes app for Windows to the Microsoft Store using Microsoft’s Desktop App Bridge, so it’s not too clear as to why the company is taking outrageously long to release the app.

Tagged with Apple, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Windows 10