Apple has blocked the new Palm Pre phone from connecting to its iTunes software.
Launched in June in the US and to be released next month in the UK, the Pre became the first device to be able to connect to Apple’s music store by effectively pretending to be an iPhone or an iPod.
Apple’s products are now the only devices that can use the store, after the firm updated its iTunes software to block the Pre.
A spokesperson for the USB Implementers Forum rejected claims by Palm that Apple was “restricting trade” by blocking access to its software.
“Under the policy, Palm may only use the single vendor ID issued to Palm for their usage. Usage of any other company’s vendor ID is specifically precluded,” they added.
Previously, Palm updated its handset’s software so that when it was connected through a computer’s USB port, it gave out a hardware vendor code identical to Apple’s products, which meant that iTunes would see it as an Apple device.
iPhone and iTouch users can take excusive advantage of the iTunes and the App Store by downloading and synchronising music, videos and applications to their devices.