Napster Mimics Zune Business Model to Offer MP3
Zune has been offering the Zune Pass, an “all-you-can-eat” plan that lets users download and listen to tunes as long as they pay a small monthly fee. The tunes are controlled by DRM. However, users have the possibility to purchase the tunes in DRM free format if they want to keep and own the tunes.
Napster (the legal version) so far has offered the only subscription plan, but this is about to change with the launch of its MP3 music store, which carries over 6 millions DRM-free tunes from all four major music labels as well as independent artists. The DRM-free (256kbps MP3) cost 99 cents per unit.
The combined subscription-to-buy plan is really a great model for consumers and this is something that Apple iTunes nor Amazon MP3 don’t have. The only problem I see here is the Napster supported devices are limited and the Zune is still struggling for its adoption!
[Via Cnet Crave]
Good Move on Zune Subscription Model: Free Zune?Zune 2 + WM Smartphone = Zune 3 CNN on Zune - A Nice Media Player for only $50 Zune.net Launched! |
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