Consumers know what they want …
The ideal MP3 phone
• switches seamlessly from music player to phone
• stores at least a thousand songs
• syncs up easily with a computer
• downloads music wirelessly, directly to the phone
• offers those downloads at a reasonable price
… but industry players have their own agendas …
Music labels (EMI, Warner, etc.) want to get more money for wireless downloads than they do for online purchases.
Wireless carriers (Sprint, Verizon, etc.) want to make consumers buy songs from their music stores.
Handset makers (Nokia, Motorola, etc.) need carriers to help with distribution and marketing costs.
Apple wants to protect the iPod from competition by forcing consumers to use iTunes.
… so the results are disappointing.
Higher prices - as much as $3 per song - for wireless music downloads to your phone.
Music phones that can't play songs purchased from iTunes.
Hobbled phones that manufacturers put out just to accommodate carrier demands.
Limited capacity (the ROKR holds only 100 songs) and choice of music stores.
Feature:
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Battle for the Soul of the MP3 Phone
Plus:
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