GristyMcFisty used our news submit to tell us about an alliance between MusicNow Download Store and electronics retailer Best Buy. The joint service will eventually feature kiosks at Best Buy branches that will allow access to over 400 thousand tracks for your legal downloading pleasure. You can also purchase a 20 dollar gift card that will entitle you to download 20 lossy tunes. What makes this a bit different from other services is the music can be used in many players and relieves the end user from having to convert files or fiddle with plug-ins.

The site allows users to download songs to over 40 digital music players from manufacturers such as Creative Labs, DigitalWay, iRiver, Philips/Nike, and Rio'”without, company officials promise, having to convert formats or download extra plug-ins. MusicNow executives are hoping that the support for multiple devices will set their service apart from competitors. The recently relaunched Napster supports one digital music player directly, and Apple'”with its iTunes online music store'”continues to focus its music efforts on its own iPod digital music player. The support for multiple players is music to at least one player manufacturer's ears. "Rio's approach has always been to support non-proprietary music services that will benefit the digital music consumer," said Jeff Hastings, president of Rio, in a statement.

From what I have read on the Internet, the download service is based on the Windows media format. As a promotion, Best Buy and MusicNow will give 10 free downloads to customers purchasing a portable player or blank media. So long as they sign up for a month of the MusicNow service. Beginning Nov. 16, Best Buy will sell the $ 20 pre-paid download cards for use with the new service. Napster's $ 15 pre-paid cards will go on sale that day as well.

Source: news.yahoo.com