Microsoft & Nokia join to offer Nokia<>PC DRM music support
Posted on 15/02/05 00:35 by Seán Byrne                             
Microsoft & Nokia join to offer Nokia<>PC DRM music support

Up until now, both the iTunes music service and iPod player dominate the market when it comes to online music and portable audio players.  Despite all Microsoft's attempts to deliver various DRM solutions including its 'All You Can Eat' Janus rental based DRM, both WMA based music shops and players seem to have insignificant effect on the iPod or iTunes.  Now Microsoft is taking another yet approach, this time by working together with Nokia for a long-term period to provide digital media support on both Nokia handsets and Windows Media Player.

For music based Nokia phones, support is added for Windows Media DRM 10 and Media Transfer Protocol (MTP).  For Windows Media Player, a plug-in is provided to offer support for Open Media Alliance DRM (OMA DRM) and Advanced Audio Coding (AAC).  Both companies aim to offer both Nokia handset and Windows XP WMP support for content from Nokia's recently launched music solution, Loudeye and the mobile phone service providers.  This will also allow consumers to securely transfer content between their Nokia mobile and Windows Media Player.  It also gives the ability for the Mobile service providers to offer their own branded music service through Windows Media Player and directly on the user's handset.

According to Nokia, this joint support allows consumers to obtain music without worrying about file incompatibilities or having their music restricted to either their handset or PC.  Operators can now immediately start to offer music from Nokia and Loudeye to Nokia handsets and Windows Media Player.  The user can then transfer music from their handset to their PC and vice versa. 

Today at the 3GSM World Congress, Microsoft and Nokia announced they are working together to ensure consumers can enjoy music from the newly launched mobile music solution offered by Nokia and Loudeye to wireless operators on both Nokia handsets and on Microsoft® Windows® XP-based PCs. The two companies have also agreed to long-term collaboration on extended digital media format support. This collaboration includes support for Windows Media® Audio, Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM) 10 and Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) on music oriented Nokia handsets, and including support for Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) Digital Rights Management and the MPEG Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) family of codecs in Windows Media Player via a plug-in. This dual-technology-stack support from both companies will further broaden the range of music enjoyment choices for consumers and delivery options for content owners and service providers, as well as ensure easy device connection and content flow between Nokia handsets and Windows XP-based PCs. 
 
The mobile music service from Nokia and Loudeye is based on the OMA DRM and MPEG AAC standards and enables a wireless operator's customers to search, listen, download and pay for music using an operator branded music application on their mobile device.  Windows Media Player is used for the PC component of the music solution, and wireless operators will be able to brand their music service when it is integrated into the Windows Media Player.

Read the complete press release here.

While consumers may hold on to their MP3 players for a long time, mobile phone users on the other hand love to upgrade to a new handset usually around once a year.  As Nokia is the leading handset provider, it looks like Microsoft has found another way to get its Windows Media Audio format into people's pockets, even if the mobile phone users have no intention of replacing their iPod or other MP3 player.   As ring tones are very popular, consumers with music handsets may start grabbing music also.  Unlike the iPod, the user will no longer need to be in front of a PC to get their music, putting this service at a competitive advantage over iTunes.

Feel free to discuss and find out more about online music services on our Music Downloads, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) & Legal Issues Forum.

Source: Nokia - Press Releases

Reactions
Discuss this article with your fellow community members! We appreciate your valuable input, but please keep the reaction policy in mind and make sure your reaction is constructive.
By Bladegash, Tuesday 15 February 2005 18:06
For some reason, the words "doomed to failure" sprang into my mind as I first read this. Wonder why?
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