Napster opens MP3 on-line shop

US online music service Napster has launched a download shop that contains 6 million MP3 files without copy protection. According to a Napster press release each song costs 0.99 US dollars, with albums going for 9.95 US dollars. Songs are encoded at 256 kb/s, and some songs are only available as part of an album. As the terms indicate, the service is currently only available for residents of the US. Elsewhere Napster continues to sell music with DRM.

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Napster's pricing is similar to Apple's at its iTunes store. But Napster proudly claims that it offers 50 per cent more songs than any other MP3 shop. Napster also claims to have the largest catalogue of music from independent labels. In its press release, Napster expressly states that the songs it sells can be played on Apple's iPod and iPhone. Napster's new opening can thus be interpreted as a clear attack on Apple.

Until recently, the former P2P music sharing service was available on a subscription basis. In January, the company announced that it would open an MP3 shop after Sony BMG became the last major label to offer its catalogue without copy protection. Along with the MP3 store, where music can be downloaded using a browser or with special software for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, Napster also plans to open a web-based, on-demand, streaming service that will not require the installation of any particular software.

In 1998, Napster went into business as a P2P platform for MP3 files. After lengthy court cases related to copyright violations, the web site was eventually closed. Later, a deal with Bertelsmann led to damage payments in the amount of around $400m to US labels. After this Roxio took over the Napster brand and turned Napster into a pay service for music files.

(trk)