October 16, 2007 5:18 AM
Napster Makes a Comeback via Web Platform Service
Popular music downloading service, Napster Inc., is making a come back by gearing up its feature to allow its users to listen to music without needing special software downloads. Napster requires a special application software that plays songs downloaded from its site. But with the new web-based Napster platform, users can now download songs directly into their PCs or mobile devices. This is web-based platform is similar to the successful Apple iTunes music store.
Christopher Allen, CEO of Napster said that Napsters is preparing for the new era in the digital music industry when more record companies make their music available without copy protection software, known as digital rights management (DRM).
"When you can take the same tracks you purchased on Napster or other services and play them on your iPod or mobile phone, it will help to increase the exposure and the value of subscription services as the market opens up,” says Allen.
The availability of unprotected digital format is expected to become a standard in the next year or so at it gains popularity among music enthusiasts. With a monthly service fee of $10-$15, Napster users can download as many songs as they want from the vast collection of about 5 million titles.
With more than 700,000 subscribers, Napster believes that the move would help increase exposure as well as the value of service they offer to clients as it competes with other companies like Rhapsody, Yahoo, and its bigger rival iTunes. At the moment, only EMI and UMG are selling music without DRM but it is expected that it won’t be long before other music companies start to follow suit.
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