Napster unveils iTunes challenger

20-05-2008

by Bryan Collins

Napster has launched what it claims is the world's largest online music store, putting it in direct competition with the world's most popular music store -- iTunes.

The re-vamped Napster store, which is initially only being made available in the US, boasts a music library that's 50 percent larger than any other MP3 store. Its extensive catalogue of both major label and independent acts includes everyone from Coldplay and Justin Timberlake to niche artists like John Michael Talbot and Salvador.

Music fans who purchase tracks from the Napster store will be able to get digital rights management (DRM) free recordings, which they can play on nearly any MP3 player or music phone, including the iPod and the iPhone. Napster is also claiming that it is the first music subscription service featuring major label content to offer 100 percent of its catalogue in MP3 format for downloads. The music site now has over 6 millions songs for sale.

"Music fans have spoken and it's clear they need the convenience, ease of use and broad interoperability of the DRM-free MP3 format, and they want to be able to find both major label artists and independent music all in one place. Napster is delighted to deliver all of this and more with the world's largest MP3 catalog," said Napster's Chairman and CEO Chris Gorog.

"Our new MP3 store, together with our award-winning 'all you can eat' music subscription service, provides the most comprehensive and exciting music experience available. Virtually any portable device in the world can now be used to enjoy tracks purchased at Napster, which is an important breakthrough for our company."

US consumers can download tracks for USD0.99 each or they can buy an album for USD9.95. These downloads also come with high-resolution album art. Consumers can also choose to subscribe to Napster's on-demand streaming service. This web-based application allows users to stream music from any computer with internet access, without downloading software. The music site is offering a free seven-day trial of this particular service.

Napster is also tipping its hat towards audiophiles with its decision to encrypt its musical content at 256 kbps bit-rate. While this is still below the 320 kbps quality that music tracks on CDs are encoded at, it is above the 160 kbps quality that iTunes typically offers its tracks at. However, Apple's music store is available in far more countries, and to date over 4 billion tracks have been downloaded from it. Furthermore, iTunes accounts for over 70 percent of digital music sales in the US alone. While Napster will have some way to go if it is really to challenge iTunes' dominance, chief operating office, Christoper Allen, appears confident.

"Napster now offers a truly complete and synergistic digital music destination, where music lovers can not only discover and listen to music, but also buy and own everything they want in MP3 format, which works on any music player. The combination offers consumers the best of both worlds," he said.

Napster has come along way since 2001 when it was sued and eventually shut down by A&M records and several other record companies for allowing users to share and illegally download music. Napster eventually re-launched in 2003 as a legal music store with backing from some of the major record labels.

As yet it is unclear when Irish users will be able to access all the features of the revamped Napster store. However, users of the O2 mobile service can access some of Napster's content using that network's 3G i-mode handsets.