Digital Music News have published new reports that the Universal Music Group is in talks with Apple regarding making its music available via the new iTunes Plus service, ie, following EMI's lead and making tracks available as DRM free AAC files, presumably in the same higher quality format as the EMI tracks available via iTunes Plus, and presumably also at the slightly increased per-track fee.
As you all surely know, the other three major record companies have remained officially quiet on the possibility of them making their music available in DRM free formats ever since EMI first made its announcement that it would back in April, although there have been reports that at least one and maybe two of them are actively considering the DRM free route. Digital Music News cites "a number of well-placed sources" who say Universal is now "actively discussing" signing up to the DRM-free iTunes Plus service.
One Universal executive is reportedly pointing to an announcement being made in the next few weeks, though others say complications remain. The major is also reportedly again pushing Apple for a variable pricing model (where prices vary according to artist, and not just sound quality), but it is unclear if those discussions are linked - ie the major is suggesting they will go DRM free if Apple introduces a variable pricing system.