Microsoft Dumps PlaysForSure, Kills Downloads From MSN Music
Nov 3rd, 2006 | By James Lewin | Category: Digital Music, iPods & Portable Media PlayersMicrosoft announced today that it was ending sales of music from MSN Music, its 2-year old attempt to create an iTunes killer.
While Microsoft officially plans to continue to support the PlaysForSure format, the company is eliminating Windows Media Format music downloads from its site and introducing a new format with the Zune media player.
“After November 14, the ‘Buy’ buttons that you’re used to seeing on MSN Music album and artist pages will change to links that connect you to Zune and to Real Rhapsody,” according to Microsoft.
Microsoft’s moves have made many to conclude that Microsoft was abandoning its PlaysForSure partners and focusing on consolidating the music download market around the Apple/iPod and Zune closed digital music systems.
[…] Microsoft Dumps PlaysForSure, Kills Downloads From MSN Music “While Microsoft officially plans to continue to support the PlaysForSure format, the company is eliminating Windows Media Format music downloads from its site and introducing a new format with the Zune media player.” (tags: microsoft drm music downloads zune playsforsure windowsmedia) […]