News

Amazon, Google Looking To Launch Music Services

Monday, February 13th, 2006 at 4:10 PM - by Staff

Google, which was recently rumored to be working on a music service with Napster, and Amazon are in active talks with industry executives about launching iTunes Music Store competitors. One executive told the Financial Times: "I do believe Amazon and Google will do something serious. We have had active communications in the last 60 days."

The same executive said that Amazon was further along in its plans "and could launch a download service as early as the second quarter of this year," according to reporter Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson. Google was in "very serious" discussions late in 2005, that person added, but now the company is moving more slowly. Mr. Edgecliffe-Johnson noted that last week Google said it was not currently planning a music store, and the company has previously denied the Napster rumors.

One analyst told the reporter that he thought an Amazon or Google music service would "certainly shake things up more than [Sony and Microsoft]," who have been unable to dent iTunes' considerable lead in the market. Music industry executives have complained in the past about iTunes' fixed pricing for tracks, preferring to create a sliding scale based on a song's age and current popularity, and they would like a new service to work with devices other than just the iPod.

Thanks to Macworld UK for the link.

4 comments from the community.

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Tiger said:

member since 17 Jun 2003 with 1011 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:18 pm

While they're at it, why don't they build cars. Nobody else is doing anything in that field.

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A guest said: (hide)

Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:26 pm

Tiger wrote:
While they're at it, why don't they build cars. Nobody else is doing anything in that field.

Or at least build autos high MPG

As to Amazon selling downloads. If anyone could be a serious contender to iTMS it would be Amazon

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A guest said: (hide)

Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:49 pm

I don't buy it.

Two huge companies w/ decades of experience like Microsoft & Sony can't compete with Apple,

but these two other companies with less experience and less resources could really take market away from Apple?

Doubtful.

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mahuti said:

member since 09 Jan 2003 with 374 posts, TMO Staff, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Feb 13, 2006 6:56 pm

DRM. The worst thing is that Amazon and Google are SURE to use WMA DRM if they are going to try to make their stuff compatible with handheld devices, which takes the iPod out of the running. I can't imagine they're just going to post MP3s.

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