Rhapsody Ditches the DRM - Signs new partnership with Verizon Wireless
Site Feeds, VoIP, broadbandreports.com June 30th, 2008
RealNetworks today announced that they’ll be offering their library of music without DRM in the MP3 format. The move takes aim at Apple by not only matching Apple’s pricing (US$.99 per song, or $9.99 per album), but by allowing store users to listen to an entire song for free instead of the iTunes method of offering just a thirty-second snippet. Users also submit reports stating that Rhapsody has partnered with Verizon to provide Rhapsody subscriptions to Verizon Wireless customers, though wireless customers will still deal with DRM:
“We’re taking this one step at a time,” said Ed Ruth, Verizon Wireless’ director of digital music. There’s a concern, he said, that allowing unprotected downloads directly to cell phones could encourage piracy. Songs downloaded through the new $15 unlimited service on Verizon phones will still come with DRM.
