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Microsoft and OD2 Launch European Music Service

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Apr 12, 2001
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Reuters reports that Microsoft announced a partnership with OD2 to launch a European online music service.

This new service is reported to be Europe's "first major a la carte online download service."

Starting today, songs are available to European users of Windows Media Player 9 at a cost of 0.99 euros or 75 pence from a library of 200,000 songs. No monthly subscription fee is required unlike previous European offerings.

Apple users are presently unable to use Apple's iTunes Music service outside of the United States. While talks are reportedly underway, one rumor has placed the European launch of Apple's music service into next year.
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2003/08/13/microsoft-and-od2-launch-european-music-service/
OD2's been offering something in europe up until this point. I think this just marks the launch of their a-la-cart service.

arn
 
Missing the boat

Hear that foghorn? There it goes! Great work, Apple. Way to grab that market share.

/fed up with poorly thought out Apple products/services
 
OD2 and MS WMP

Bring it on!

iTunes is the best. Best quality, best ease of use.

Apple will get there. Just because MS *announced* it doesn't mean it's live yet. And these companies are far more fond of project-announcing things so they can look like they did it first, even if their service starts later.

And even if they do beat Apple to the Euro Punch, so what? Apple will still have the best overall deal, service, support, interface, etc.

Jaedreth (I do not cower before the onslaught of mine enemy)
 
Nice, ???

Could this be even worst than
BuyMusic.com in America?

Well be careful they may be a bonus with each song,
how about a virus.

Well how about user rights?
 
Apple hasn't lost the market share yet.

You won't know if Apple's lost the market share until you see sales figures from this new service.

I still believe that many people are holding out for the iTunes Music Store because they know that it'll be good, and easy to use.

Besides, Apple has the iPod market share.

If Apple waits more than 2 months from now, though, they most likely will have missed the boat, but I don't think that's going to happen.

Besides, competition is good. It make Apple's service look better.
 
sigh... I suppose it was inevitable...

If I was Apple (which I am not, because Apple is a corporation, and I am a person, but that is irrelevant), I would have delayed the launch of the music store until the Mac and Windows versions were ready. I mean, the whole online music download business was floundering before Apple got into it anyway, and I doubt that Microsoft would have shown interest otherwise. But then again, Microsoft has ways of knowing things. Bill Gates probably could have used his demon-powers to predict the iTunes Music Store.

Whoah. Eye doctor appointment today. I'm still a bit woozy.
 
Re: Nice, ???

Originally posted by arqsagi
Could this be even worst than
BuyMusic.com in America?
Click to expand...
Yes, it's a MicroSoft 1.0 product.
Well be careful they may be a bonus with each song, how about a virus.
Click to expand...
Only one?
Well how about user rights?
Click to expand...
It'll be under a MicroSoft EULA, so you have NONE.
 
Originally posted by G4scott
Apple hasn't lost the market share yet.

You won't know if Apple's lost the market share until you see sales figures from this new service.

I still believe that many people are holding out for the iTunes Music Store because they know that it'll be good, and easy to use.

Besides, Apple has the iPod market share.

If Apple waits more than 2 months from now, though, they most likely will have missed the boat, but I don't think that's going to happen.

Besides, competition is good. It make Apple's service look better.
Click to expand...

I agree that iTMS is a far better service, and will be way better than the competition for a while. But, we use macs because they are "good and easy to use", but it seems 95% of the world doesn't really care about that. They want compatibility, and Apple doesn't have it. This was just poorly thought out. Apple made the music download business a reality, and now they're letting all the buzzards swoop in and take over.
 
monopoly?

Originally posted by DTphonehome
I agree that iTMS is a far better service, and will be way better than the competition for a while. But, we use macs because they are "good and easy to use", but it seems 95% of the world doesn't really care about that. They want compatibility, and Apple doesn't have it. This was just poorly thought out. Apple made the music download business a reality, and now they're letting all the buzzards swoop in and take over.
Click to expand...

We've all heard that competition is good, which it is. I'm curious why people think we all have to fish out of the same pond. Why does the iTMS have to be the only bar in town? It doesn't. The market is constantly changing, so whether the Windows version launched in April or launches in December is irrelevant. The important thing is that people are using it. And people will use it whether it's the only one or one of a dozen. Why? Because it'll be the best!
 
"fed up with poorly thought out Apple products/services"

I think the barriers overseas are legal ones.
 
Apple's policies...

I don't remember, but I bet a lot of people were saying this same thing when the iPod came out only for Mac, and Apple took their sweet little time making it for PC. Frankly... I think it was a dumb move back then, and it's a dumb move now, when I am fairly confident that they could've created and released iTMS for Windows this month. Granted, iTunes is Cocoa now (I believe), but still, that long to port an mp3 player? Nobody is going to buy a Mac for iTMS, like some iPod people did. Pretty interesting situation. I just want Apple to release it ASAP instead of keeping it back. I bet they'll regain the market share, at least a significant portion of it. You'll always have peecee weenies (no offense, to any on this board) that will go "it's made by apple so it suxxxx! it suxxxxx! It suxxxxx! it SUXXXX!!111@@11! OMG WTF LOL (I've had weenies really think if they say it enough it'll be true)
 
*sigh*

i really liked iTMS, too.

sad to see it dye because it couldn't get off the ground in time.

Why the hell Apple started the iTMS before they had windows or overseas markets eludes me, I mean they had to know it was going to start a wildfire... You could have predicted right off the bat that several companies would rush products to the table, and that MS would buy a service and rename it ".net" or "msn".

pnw
 
Well SJ said it himself, (not that we have to be told this) "itunes for windows will be out by the end of the year, its a little behind schedule, windows is harder to program for."

Now imagaine that combined with the limitations of international laws, pertaining to music and DRM. Thats a helluva task for them to undertake. Since Micro$oft dominates the european computer market even more than in the us, it should be no surprise that M$ is the first out of the gate overseas. Not all hope is lost though my friends, as we all know that the more time taken, the better the product. (Especially when it is apple that is taking the time to create, think powerbook updates, IMS International/windows.....) Dont worry!:cool:
 
Serves Apple right if they become a minor player in online music distribution. Apple should have realised that supporting the rest of the world is just as important as the US.

I know part of it was to do with licensing issues with music companies. However, the majority of music companies are multi national and apple should have pushed harder to get international agreements, whilst working on the US agreements.

If other companies can negatiate these things, so can Apple.

Maybe this will encourage Apple to rollout international support faster... and get the negogations moving along quicker.

Apple will be pushed into the background as more companies get on the (NON US) online music distribution bandwagon.

Who cares if ITMS is easier to use - thats means bugger all if its not available in your country OR your computer.

Consumer loyalties don't last long if their needs aren't met.


Apple && international == consistent dragging of heels.
 
May the best service win.

Noble sentiment, yes, especially since Apple's competitors are excluding the iPod and at the same time immitating Apple.

Dammit! Die MicroSoft. Die!

Is BuyMusic dead yet?
 
It's the kind of thinking demonstrated in this thread that caused the internet gold rush. Everyone back then thought that by putting up a site and staking their claim that they were getting something tangible. Marketshare isn't property.

Timing is important. But having a good brand and a good product are much, much more important. Apple has both and it will be able to wield them effectively when the product is finally released.

But to listen to you folks one would think that Apple is run by idiots who sit on their hands all day. Give me a break.
 
apple = brilliant ideas, poor execution, if only they released iTMS both in Mac and Windows at the same time, they wont have to play catch up now.
 
a bad execution of a poor rendition of a good product, while brought out early, does not a good product make. I'm sure this new "threat" from M$ will have just as much horrific impact as BuyMusic.com has had on the market. iTMS does it right, and it's just a matter of time until the legalities of the issues are worked out to allow iTMS to go worldwide.

Hope the folks in europe like the taste of viruses as much as americans...
 
Re: Re: Nice, ???

Originally posted by Sun Baked
Yes, it's a MicroSoft 1.0 product.
Click to expand...

Well, seeing as they're providing the jukebox software, it's kinda a MS 9.0 release - which doesn't mean it's a terribly good piece of software, but you can be sure

a) the drm be frustrating for your average user,
b) it will have the awful windows preschool lollypop colour scheme,
c) people (mindless windows users...) will be familiar and happy with the way it works.

Only one?It'll be under a MicroSoft EULA, so you have NONE.
Click to expand...

At the moment it's quite easy to convert a wma (even drm'd ones) directly to a mp3. Somehow I doubt MS will be alerting their customers to this method gaining "fair use" out of their purchaces.
 
Once Microsoft gets in noise into something and bundles it with the OS, the game is almost up.

Windows users typically don't go looking for things if its bundled with their OS - take IE, Hotmail, Outlook etc etc.

Why should they go looking for software when its right in front of their noses... they'll except any bag of sh?t software - ( IE, outlook etc etc)

I'm afraid that unless Apple do some very serious advertising once the Windows (IF) and worldwide ITMS becomes available, ITMS will be relegated to the status of something like QuickTime.... barely used amongst the Windows lemmings.
 
Windows Media 9 users can access the new digital services by clicking on a link on the player.
Click to expand...

Has anyone been able to find this link? I'm on a PC with WiMP 9 and don't see a link anywhere.
 
Re: Re: Re: Nice, ???

Originally posted by mim

c) people (mindless windows users...) will be familiar and happy with the way it works.
Click to expand...

Take a closer look at who actually spends the most money on music. They are younger and hipper people. Ie. the same demographic responsible for most of the downloads now.

I don't think Apple needs to worry about losing out on the retirees looking to update their Barry Manilow collection.
 
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