Andre Yoskowitz
25 Sep 2007 14:51
Amazon today launched the public beta of its new DRM-free digital music store, starting with a 2 million song offering.
Many believe the new store could prove to be a strong competitor to iTunes as it features tons of songs, but all DRM-free. All files are in MP3 format and encoded at 256kbs. The tracks are compatible with most portable devices including the iPod.
The new store will also be more affordable then iTunes as Amazon will offer all individual songs for 89 to 99 cents and albums for $6 to $10 USD. iTunes, in comparison, charges $1.29 for DRM-free tracks and $12.99 for albums.
Noticeably absent from Amazon's store is all labels under Sony BMG however, which includes Arista, Columbia, Epic, Jive and RCA records. Due to contractual obligations, all their tracks must include DRM.
Source:
BetaNews