BUSINESS
OD2 aims to spoil iTunes launch
14-06-2004
by Craig Liddell
On-line music distribution company OD2 has inked a deal with Microsoft, as reports predict the European arrival of iTunes.
Following the announcement by OD2 and software giant Microsoft, Windows Media Player users will now be able to more easily buy and download music from a selection of European on-line stores. The move by the company, which is part owned by Peter Gabriel, has also been seen a spoiling tactic ahead of the imminent European launch of Apple's rival music download service iTunes, expected to take place this week.
OD2's new service is called SonicSelector and it has been described as a digital music jukebox that works on a "pay-as-you-go" model. Users can download SonicSelector for free and install it as a plug-in for Windows Media Player 9. Once installed SonicSelector creates a complete on demand music service within Windows Media Player, allowing consumers to browse an on-line store, stream and download tracks, burn copies to CD, or transfer this content to portable music devices that are based on Windows Media player.
"Each individual now has a personal library of over 36,000 albums that they can play any time, but the trick is going to be in helping them find the music they like and introduce them to new music on a regular basis," said Ed Averdieck, OD2's director of sales & marketing.
Central to the service is a recommendation engine, which monitors user search queries, matches them against the listening habits of the entire database of music fans, and generates intelligent recommendations for other titles that the user may like.
OD2's announcement comes in the same week as the predicted European launch of iTunes Net music store. Apple is hosting a press conference on Tuesday in London where, several news reports have speculated, it will announce the long-awaited launch date.
OD2 has previously scheduled announcements to foil publicity events of rival companies. In May, the company slashed the price for song downloads to half to take the shine from the UK launch of Napster.
Meanwhile, Roxio-owned Napster has launched a marketing partnership with NTL to offer music subscriptions to the cable company's broadband customers.
SonicSelector is available immediately from a number of European retailers including MSN, MTV, Packard Bell, and Tiscali in the UK, France, Germany, and Italy.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 