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Microsoft considering a subscription-based music service

14 June 2005 1:06 by Petteri "dRD" Pyyny | 4 comments

Microsoft said on ZDNet's interview that it is "considering" a subscription-based music service later this year. The plan is an obvious threat to other online music stores that embrace the monthly subscription model, most notably to Napster. Napster is also using Microsoft's WMA technology and DRM service in its music store, so Microsoft's plans could work against one of its largest technology licensees.

Microsoft launched its own per-song online music store back in September, 2004, but haven't managed to topple Apple's iTunes in terms of popularity and is also lagging behind Napster in terms of customers and revenue.

According to Microsoft, the new service would offer features like playlist-sharing and would provide additional "community features" that would allow users to interact with each others.

Microsoft's announcement sent Napster's shares down by 4 percent, while Apple's share price fell 4.9 percent after the report was published.

More information:

ZDNet
BBC

Permalink to this article

Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage cracked by Indian (23 June 2005)

iTunes sales reach 400M (11 May 2005)

Napster denies its music has been hacked (18 February 2005)

Napster takes aim at the iPod (3 February 2005)

Microsoft employees love the iPod! (2 February 2005)

Microsoft admit copying iTunes (16 September 2004)

MSN music downloading service to launch this week (30 August 2004)

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Discuss this article!
etherz (Junior Member) 14 June 2005 10:07
Still waiting for DRM-less downloads! [ + quote]
nonoitall (Member) 14 June 2005 11:28
Me too. Until I actually own what I download, they won't get a penny from me. [ + quote]
westbrom (Member) 14 June 2005 13:55
me too, getting nowt off me... boing boing baggies baggies [ + quote]
phaserule (Inactive) 15 June 2005 12:06
M$ and music, that's like having spyware providing your telephone and internet service. Hmm, do tc/ip packs hit the internet everytime you play a song? It's a half of a glass of water, full or empty does not change that. [ + quote]