Twitter introduces in-app music streaming with SoundCloud, iTunes

Twitter will allow users to play podcasts, music and other audio clips direct from their timelines, or message feeds, via a new feature designed in partnership with Berlin-based audio-streaming service SoundCloud.

Senior mobile analyst at IHS, Jack Kent said,"With this, it is again another service aimed to keep people engaged within the app,"

"In broadening out the content, they hope people will stay in the Twitter environment."

Twitter has also got iTunes on board so users can listen to music in their timeline then be transferred to Apple's service to buy the song. Rock band the Foo Fighters officially launched their new single "Something From Nothing" on Audio Card.

"We're just beginning to test the Audio Card and plan to make it available to more partners and creators in the future so that many more musical artists and creators will be able to share exclusive, in-the-moment audio to millions of listeners on Twitter," the company said in a blog post.

Audio Card is designed to let people continue exploring Twitter while listening to streaming music.

The launch was marked by the band Foo Fighters, who tweeted the official release of their new single, which could be heard in iTunes by clicking on a link in the message.

Song offerings from iTunes were limited at launch, while SoundCloud boasted a wider variety of audio content.

Musicians David Guetta and Chance The Rapper sent tweets from their respective profiles, @davidguetta and @ChanceTheRapper, with songs that could be played through SoundCloud.