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News: New Best Buy digital music servce, powered by RealNetworks

As previously noted, Real will launch a new Rhapsody-To-Go-DRM technology, dubbed Rhapsody DNA, on the Rhapsody music and media service


News today from Dealerscope.com is that the big box, CE retailer Best Buy is kicking off a new music service powered by Rhapsody, optimized for SanDisk’s 2200R Rhapsody DNA-compatible digital music players.



“Best Buy Co. Inc. announced a music service Thursday powered by RealNetworks Inc.’s Rhapsody service and optimized for SanDisk Corp.’s latest digital music players. Starting October 15th, the Best Buy Digital Music Store, based on the newly released Rhapsody 4.0, and Sansa e200R Rhapsody players will become available. The players will come preloaded with 30 hours of music from EMI, SonyBMG, Universal and Warner artists.

“The move is designed to rattle the 88 percent share of the digital music download market held by Apple’s iTunes service and the better than 50 percent share of the digital music player market held by their iPod.

“Best Buy is offering a free two-month subscription to its new service to anyone who buys the new player (but don’t expect to listen to any of that music after the two months are up unless you subscribe).

The players range in price from $139.99 for a 2GB model to $249.99 for an 8GB model.

Best Buy has previously tried to enter the digital music store game with RioPort.com and Napster.

Best Buy Digital Music Store will launch at
www.bestbuy.com/digitalmusicstore