Connected-audio firm Sonos hopes it will be able to strike a deal with Apple to stream its upcoming Apple Music service into the living room, according to chief executive John MacFarlane.

His company’s wireless speakers and hi-fis can already play music from streaming services including Spotify, Deezer, SoundCloud, Google Play, Rdio, Tidal and Mixcloud, with Apple now high on its wish list for future partners.

“I don’t believe you’ll see Apple supporting Sonos at launch, as it’s very much focused on the mobile phone. We focus on the home, but we are a very open platform, so we would love to see them on it,” MacFarlane told the Guardian.

He admitted that it makes more sense for Apple to focus initially more on mobile listening for Apple Music, which was announced at the company’s WWDC event in June, and is due to launch by the end of the month.

“The mobile phone is the most accessible platform if you’re going to launch a streaming service: you’re going to get to a billion people very quickly,” he said.

“For a technology company, even if you’re Apple, that’s a no-brainer. It’s natural: that’s the device with you … But after that breadth of access comes quality, and the only environment for quality listening is your home.”

Apple already has its AirPlay technology that can be incorporated into hi-fis and speakers to stream music wirelessly from its devices, so may prefer to continue focusing on that route into the living room with partners like Harman Kardon, Bowers & Wilkins and Bang & Olufsen.

The company also has its Apple TV set-top box, which is capable of playing music – likely including Apple Music – through the speakers connected to an owner’s television.

Variety recently claimed that Apple had cancelled plans to launch a Wi-Fi-connected speaker being developed by its Beats Electronic subsidiary – a product that would have competed directly with Sonos.

MacFarlane thinks Apple Music will have a positive impact on its supposed rivals, with its global launch and mixture of on-demand music and radio-like stations increasing the interest in both kinds of streaming.

“Apple Music is the first shot heard around the world that breaks those barriers down. It will launch across Europe, and they’ll put a lot of effort into paid on-demand in the US,” he said.

“It’s all good news for Sonos, because the miracle is to marry on-demand with being able to play it in your home.”