Real Networks fights back with 25 songs free per month offer

April 27, 2005
(CoolAvenues News Wire)

With an aim to sway music down-loaders from iTunes & illegal P2P networks, Real Networks has offered 25 free songs every month to the user of Rhapsody 25 - a music subscription program that was unveiled on Tuesday.

The new version of Rhapsody software will allow non-subscribers to listen select 25 songs from a library of more than 1 million songs free & legally, while subscribers to Rhapsody service will have access to the whole library. (The monthly subscription fee is $9.99 per month).

Real Networks, a pioneer of streaming technology, has been a laggard in the online music industry where the scene has been dominated by P2P networks and Apple iTunes. Apple has been selling tunes at 99 cents each and has sold more than 350 million tunes riding on the success of its trend-setting MP3 player iPod.

Real Networks' Rhapsody aims to lure users of its rhapsody service to become paying subscribers, as it offers various features along with the flexibility to transfer music to portable devices by paying a nominal $5 fee. The other plank being used by Real Network is of legal status to lure students and other users to start using its services, as of late, music industry is focusing its attention on music pirates and has taken strong legal actions.

Hence, in long term, Real Network's Rhapsody might be able to convince music pirates to be on the right side of law by paying $9.99 and thus create winning business model.

(Also read: Music Industry Goes After Internet2 For Pirated Music Downloads)

Concluded.

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