iTMS rivals falling short

A new column notes the superior position Apple's iTunes Music Store holds, and offer a possibility as to why none of the competition has managed to dethrone the digital music king. An enterprising company would need to develop a site with virtually the same content as iTunes, add the ability to use it with a variety of non-iPod players, and then offer better prices to effectively compete with Apple. This has already happened, according to Forbes; however, it isn't enough -- partially due to sub-par players and partially due to Microsoft's "software failings." iTunes competitors, the report says, are pushing subscription-based models, hoping consumers will warm up to the idea of unlimited track rentals that deactivate when they stop paying money. iTunes sells tracks for .99 cents each, but because buyers own the music they can stop using the iTunes Music Store at any time and continue to enjoy the tracks they already paid for.

by MacNN Staff