Ping, the social music network from Apple, will cease operations Sept. 30 after adding social-network integration to iTunes, CNET has reported.

Lack of Facebook integration with the tool is cited as the reason for closing down of Ping. At the D10 Conference in June, CEO Tim Cook hinted the end was near for Ping, stating: ""We tried Ping, and I think the customer voted and said 'This isn't something that I want to put a lot of energy into.'"

Ever since Ping's downfall, Apple has integrated Twitter into iOS and Mac OS X and Facebook into iOS 6. Earlier this year, Cook noted at the same conference: "Apple doesn't have to own a social network, but does Apple have to be social? Yes," CNET stated.

Apple announced it would no longer accept new members for the service.

An Apple representative told CNET that any playlists users created in Ping would be converted to iMixes, the company's publishable playlist format. The feature ceases operations Sept. 30 and users lose followers. The Ping page already redirects to the main iTunes page.

Ping enabled the users to post tracks and albums to a feed that other users subscribed to, viewing them from within iTunes on the desktop and on iOS devices. However, the launch of Apple's music-centric social network within iTunes was considered to be Apple's misstep, CNET pointed out.

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