Napster targets Apple with new service

[kenshira]

Napster targets Apple with new service
By Kristie Masuda


Napster on Thursday introduced the latest version of its music downloading software, Napster To Go, that lets users download unlimited songs for a monthly fee. The new service is geared toward portable digital music device owners allowing subscribers to access any tracks for $14.95 per month.

Taking aim at Apple with the new $30 million advertising campaign, Napster To Go advertising will focus on its compatibility on several types of digital music music players and unlimited access to all songs for a monthly fee. According to Reuters, Napster's promotion will feature a Super Bowl television spot that will ask fans to compare the costs of spending $10,000 to buy 10,000 songs from the iTunes Music Store that can be played on an iPod to Napster's per month unlimited download service to carry songs from a catalog of over a million tracks on Napster-compatible players, that will include players from Creative Technology, Dell, and Reigncom, for $14.95.

"Napster To Go provides infinitely greater value is much more exciting than the iTunes pay-per-download model," Napster chairman and CEO Chris Gorog said.

From:
SPYMAC NEWS

[Polar Mac]

Originally posted by kenshira
Napster targets Apple with new service

"Napster To Go provides infinitely greater value is much more exciting than the iTunes pay-per-download model," Napster chairman and CEO Chris Gorog said.

From:
SPYMAC NEWS

Haay... here we go again :dry: and whats up with these CEOs anyway?! $14.95 per month? download-all-you-can.... sounds kinda fishy don't you think? besides how do the artist profit from it if you can download all their songs in a month?! knowing napster pa :wound:

[Dave_D]

From what I remember, Napster's technology doesn't allow you to export the songs to CD unless you buy the track.

The monthly fee allows you to listen to their archive (500,000 tracks) on PCs and upload them to your flash based player, but NOT directly save on your HD (where you can technically bootleg them).

If you opt to buy the track, it's the same fee as iTunes and it will allow you to download them direct to your HD.

[Gomi]

looks like napster still doesnt 'get it', subscription based music downloads died years ago and theyre still going at it. why do they keep offering something that consumers have consistently turned down time and again? anyways, they dont have the clout to market the new service effectively anyway. if anybody remembers when itunes store was launched, the subscription service was one of the prime reasons they started the music store in the first place.

i predict napster will die 9 lives within 2 years... they dont have the ipod to make a profit off the service so why bother. if they want a fighting chance theyd have to work closely with creative and market their music system as one. good luck! :P