Microsoft jumps in with Nokia - Real cool on Rhapsody mobile. The 3GSM Congress served as an interesting litmus test for the state of the mobile media player market, with rivals Real Networks
Microsoft jumps in with Nokia - Real cool on Rhapsody mobile.
The 3GSM Congress served as an interesting litmus test for the state of the mobile media player market, with rivals Real Networks and Microsoft sending out different signals regarding music.
Microsofts deal to launch a Windows Media-powered music service in partnership with Nokia and Loudeye is significant not only because the two companies compete head-to-head in the mobile OS space, but also because it allows users to transfer tracks between PC and handset.
Its obvious when consumers purchase music that they dont want it to live on just one device, so they want to use simple software that will let them manage their library easily, said Gareth Sutcliffe, senior business manager at Windows Digital Media, adding that any conflict between the two companies is cancelled out by the benefits to themselves and consumers.
Meanwhile Real Networks, which is supplying 70 operators with its Helix mobile platform and vendors with its mobile player software, is in no rush to translate its Rhapsody online jukebox service to mobile. The service has over 700,000 subs in the US and allows PC users to stream music, listen to radio and burn tracks to CD.
Article continues belowAdvertisement
Were talking to operators about making Rhapsody available for mobile, but there are still huge issues with DRM and handset compatibility, said Lee Joseph, general manager of mobile business at Real Networks International.
Weve learned important lessons from the Internet, including that you should never get caught up in the hype.
While Real finds mobile music enticing from a user experience and billing perspective, Joseph said the economic difficulties of full track PC downloads wont get any easier if translated to mobile.
