Apple is planning to include the Beats streaming music service in iOS versions in the future, according to sources that are familiar with the matter.

The sources told the New York Times about Apple's plans but wished to remain anonymous because the plans have not yet been made official.

Apple acquired Beats Electronics for $3.2 billion earlier in the year. The acquisition of the company, founded by music icons Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, was widely criticized by analysts upon its announcement. However, Apple's plans could make more sense out of why the company acquired Beats.

Apple is currently trying to lessen the costs for consumers to enjoy streaming music services. The company has started discussions for new licensing terms with several record labels, which will allow Apple to decrease the price of the monthly subscription to Beats Music from $10 to as low as $5.

The iPhone maker, however, has so far been unable to make record labels agree to their terms, as the companies are seeking slightly higher prices than what Apple is offering.

Within the music industry, the prices of the plans for monthly subscription are the subject of debate. Analysts have stated that $10 per month is too expensive for most of the casual listeners. The average listener spends around $40 to $55 yearly.

Record labels and artists have become frustrated with how much free music can be enjoyed through services such as YouTube and Spotify.

One such artist is Taylor Swift, who pulled out all her music on Spotify as the service would not allow for her songs to be made available only to Spotify's paying users.

Many expected an app for Beats Music to be included in the release of the iOS 8, but the app was nowhere to be found. The inclusion of the app would have granted more attention to the streaming music service from the millions of Apple's mobile device users.

The target date for Beats Music to be featured in Apple's iOS is not yet known, but it is expected that the service will be folded into Apple's iTunes instead of retaining the brand Beats Music. This is because the streaming music service only gained some traction when Apple purchased Beats Electronics.

The acquisition of Beats Electronics also had Apple acquire the company's headphones business, but branding for the devices will likely be retained as the headphones have already built the reputation of the brand.