Music at home, on the go and on the cheap sum up the goal of a new partnership program penned by Microsoft Corp. with a slew of device vendors.
Incorporating such handhelds as music players, media centers, smart phones, pocket PCs and digital audio receivers, Microsoft has created a vehicle for its Windows Media Player 10 to enjoy thousands of songs and video from a subscription service, “all for the price of a single CD,” according to the software giant.
Device makers with Microsoft’s Windows Media Player 10-compatible products include Creative, Dell Inc., Gateway Inc., HP, iRiver America, Rio, RoC Digital, Samsung Electronics America and Virgin Electronics. Audiovox also makes handsets, and D-Link Systems Inc., Omnifi and Roku provide digital media receivers.
Microsoft also said it has extended the reach of its music offering in its player’s Digital Media Mall, its online shopping venue for audio and video products. Avenues for the Digital Media Mall now include Audible.com, Court TV, F.Y.E. For Your Entertainment, MLB.TV, Puretracks, XM Satellite Radio and others. Microsoft said its network now encompasses more than 30 new online music and video stores in more than 20 additional countries.
The software giant said its Windows Media Player 10 has enjoyed more than 17 million downloads since its launch Sept. 2.
“Today’s announcement not only introduces exciting new devices and services, but also brings to life entirely new scenarios for consumers-from taking subscription music on the go to enjoying secured audio and video over a home network,” said Will Poole, senior vice president of the Windows client business at Microsoft. “What’s great for consumers is they now have all this choice without having extra complexity …”
The Bellevue, Wash.-based company also introduced what it calls the PlaysForSure logo and testing program, which allows end users to choose devices and services that can work together via the Windows Media Player 10.
“We feel PlaysForSure will drive greater consumer understanding of how music devices and online music services that support the Windows platform can work together as part of an attractive solution for our customers,’ said Scott Young, vice president of Entertainment at Best Buy.
