by CIO Staff

Best Buy, RealNetworks Team on Web Music Service

News
Oct 05, 20061 min
Consumer Electronics

Best Buy, the United States’ leading retailer of electronics, plans to launch on Oct. 16 its own online digital music store to rival Apple Computer’s uber-popular—and U.S. market-leading—iTunes Store, CNNMoney.com reports.

The new Best Buy store will be driven by RealNetworks’ Rhapsody 4.0 music service, according to CNNMoney.com.

Users of the new store will have the option of signing up for a $14.99-a-month subscription plan or they’ll be able to purchase songs for $0.99 apiece, CNNMoney.com reports.

Apple charges the same amount for single songs at the iTunes store, and Microsoft’s upcoming Zune marketplace—which will offer music selections to users of its highly anticipated Zune digital media player—will charge the same rate for single song titles. Microsoft will also offer a monthly subscription plan for the same price as BestBuy expects to. Zune is set to be released in the United States on Nov. 14, and the 30GB version of the device will sell for $250.

Related Links:

  • Microsoft Zune 30GB to Sell for $250, Songs for $1

  • Apple Touts New iPods, iTunes Movie Downloads

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