Tech Industry
08/01/2003, 8:25am, EDT
Friday, August 1st[::FROM::] [::SiteName::]
iTMS for Windows on track for end of the year
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Apple says it is on pace to launch a Windows-based version of the iTunes Music Store by the end of the year and that it intends to launch a PC service with broad content-usage rights similar to those enjoyed by iTunes consumers using Mac computers, according to BillBoard Bulletin: "Additionally, Apple says it has sold more than 300,000 iPod portable players since the bow of iTunes in April. Lowe maintained that Apple is not looking to music to serve as a loss-leader business for iPod sales."
The article quotes an industry executive as saying that the consistent 99 cent per song download price will begin to flucuate up and down depending on the song and that the industry will experiment with different pricing models with "up to half a dozen" companies debut digital music services this Fall with the final pricing determined by the volume of online music purchases.
The article quotes an industry executive as saying that the consistent 99 cent per song download price will begin to flucuate up and down depending on the song and that the industry will experiment with different pricing models with "up to half a dozen" companies debut digital music services this Fall with the final pricing determined by the volume of online music purchases.
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posted by MacNN.com Reader
posted by MacNN.com Reader
I can't fault any business for trying to maximize their profits. With the execption of some subcription based services, there was no pricing model for the market Apple was entering. Using their best judgement for everyone involved, 99 cents appears to be a good middle ground.
What hope will happen is the following: In addition to increased competition easing prices down, the shear volume of having windows users on iTMS will decrease prices. Exposing iTMS to millions of additional users will increase sales. As a result, I can see Apple decreasing the price of songs from 99 cents to perhaps 89 cents - again due the shear 'bulk' of new business.
Then again, prices could go up... gulp!
posted by MacNN.com Reader
posted by MacNN.com Reader
posted by MacNN.com Reader
http://homepage.mac.com/macsatin
posted by MacNN.com Reader
posted by MacNN.com Reader
Remember, we're talking about the record companies here, not just Apple. These are the same record companies that think $18.99 for one fucking CD at Tower Records is reasonable. Their inclinationis not to lower prices is to raise them. If left up to them, we'll be paying $18.99 for downloading one CD in the future. We consumers need to resist their effort to dick around with prices by refusing to buy if they get out of line. This is a chance to send a message to the fat pigs sitting on the top floors of these companies.
Power to the people.
posted by MacNN.com Reader
posted by MacNN.com Reader
IMO it was pretty stupid of them to rush the deployment before all the pieces were in place.
Still, the Mac version has proved the viability of a user-friendly (as opposed to a user-fiendly) service. Sure, there's DRM and the Linux zealots can't stand that, but the user isn't hamstrung the way he is with BuyMusic's DRM.
Come to think of it, maybe AAPL did the right thing after all. They knew all these other services were going to be coming, and they decided to wait. Let the Mac version loose, and let the praise flow from the media. Then the Windows-only people will try to make their own version of the ITMS and fail miserably. Then AAPL can release the ITMS for Windows along with iTunes for Windows, featuring the same ease of use found in the Mac version. They can then trumpet their service, talk about how easy it is to use, and how the user isn't held captive with overly restrictive DRM and they can clean up and own the market.
Hmmmm...
posted by MacNN.com Reader