Amazon MP3 challenges iTunes's position

Yesterday, Amazon.com introduced its extensive digital music store to the public with 2.3 million songs. However, none of these songs are integrated with copy protection technology.

The Amazon MP3 store will allow customers to buy and download independent songs or the entire album. Music tracks can be copied to multiple computers, transferred to discs and run on most computers and mobile devices including Apple iPod and Microsoft Zune.

Each music sold on Amazon MP3 costs 89 cents to 99 cents and the album sells for between 5.99 USD and 9.99 USD.

Amazon's booth is expected by experts to be the rival of digital music distribution bosses via Apple's iTunes network, which now offers a number of songs lacking digital rights management technology that is considered a deterrent. copying illegal music.

Although digital rights management helps reduce illegal copying of music, it can frustrate listeners by limiting the device or the number of computers that have the ability to play music. Copyrighted songs sold through iTunes, generally do not play on any device other than the iPod, and the iPod will not play copyrighted music purchased from rival music stores.

Amazon's vice president of digital music, Bill Carr, said it will let customers decide to use the music they buy legally.

To help stop music theft, Carr said some reputable record labels have added a digital stamp to MP3 files to identify the music provider and Amazon to add titles and entries. of the song. He added that details about buyers or transactions will not be included in downloaded music files.

While two major record labels, Universal and EMI, signed a deal to sell music to Amazon, Warner Music Group and Sony BMG Music Entertainment did not agree to sell music on Amazon MP3.

Mai Dinh