Apple iTunes Store goes DRM-free, new price points in April

Posted on Tuesday, January 06 2009 @ 19:56 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
Apple unveiled a couple of changes for its iTunes Store at MacWorld. Beginning today, songs from Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group and EMI, along with thousands of independent labels, will be available in 256kbps AAC without DRM.

iPhone 3G users can now download songs directly over their 3G network, for the same price as downloading to their computer and beginning in April, there will be three price points for songs. Based on what music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available for 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer our iTunes customers DRM-free iTunes Plus songs in high quality audio and our iPhone 3G customers the ability to download music from iTunes anytime, anywhere over their 3G network at the same price as downloading to your computer or via Wi-Fi,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “And in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points—69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29—with many more songs priced at 69 cents than $1.29.”

iTunes offers customers a simple, one-click option to easily upgrade their entire library of previously purchased songs to the higher quality DRM-free iTunes Plus format for just 30 cents per song or 30 percent of the album price. The iTunes Store will begin offering eight million of its 10 million songs in Apple’s DRM-free format, iTunes Plus, today with the remaining two million songs offered in iTunes Plus by the end of March.

iPhone 3G users can now preview and purchase the entire iTunes Store music catalog on their iPhone 3G over their 3G network, just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price and in the same high quality format. Songs purchased on an iPhone will automatically sync to a user’s computer the next time they sync their iPhone.


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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