Vodafone to Offer Digital Music Service with No Limits or Restrictions

In an effort to gain back some of the revenues lost by piracy, many of the world's biggest music producers have signed agreements with Vodafone to allow a digital music service that has no restrictions or limits. The new service will give customers access to over one million songs and will allow Vodafone to sell the music without the anti-piracy protection software known as digital rights management (DRM) (source: tech.yahoo.com).

Several marquee names in the music business such as Universal Music Group, EMI Music and Sony Music Entertainment are already said to be signed and on board with the plan. Vodafone is also currently in talks with Warner Music Group which would allow for even more music to be made available once an agreement has been reached (source: tech.yahoo.com).

Vodafone says the deal will enable DRM-free music to be sent to any digital device such as a computer or a cell phone. From there, the user can opt to put the music onto any portable device such as an iPod if that is their desire. The catch is that the device has to be registered to the Vodafone customer. This will eliminate file sharing that could cut into the already shrinking revenue stream quite considerably (source: tech.yahoo.com).

In the past, the music industry has relied on DRM anti-piracy software to help fight against piracy. But facing sharply declining sales of digital music, the music industry is now ready to remove the software in an effort to increase sales (source: tech.yahoo.com).

With the new deal, customers will be able to choose from over one million tracks from names such as Coldplay, Duffy and a multitude of others. Customers will be able to get as many songs as they desire with no limits or restrictions, all for the same price. While there is no mention of any firm numbers of that price, Vodafone does say that pricing will depend upon region (source: tech.yahoo.com).

As the old saying goes, "If you can't beat them, join them." This is the angle that the music industry now finds itself having to take as the only other alternative is to continue to take in anemic revenues. In other words, something is always better than nothing and the music industry unfortunately has to wake up to that cold reality. As for the consumer, the new plan will allow great flexibility, freedom and the peace of mind that comes with downloading songs that you know won't contain any viruses or malware.