The major labels are always ready to license an all-you-can-eat, MP3 download store. That is, as long as the MP3s aren't really unlimited. And, as long there's lots of fine print involved.
And so is the case with Cricket Wireless' just-launched Muve Music service, which offers 'millions of MP3s' from all four majors. Download whatever you want as part of a $55 pre-paid monthly wireless package, and forget about limitations! Except of course, these limitations: songs aren't actually MP3s, they are Dolby PCM files encoded at the lowly 32 kbps. Those scratchy songs cannot be ported onto the PC, and currently, Muve is only available on one device—a modified Samsung Suede.
Sounds like a great deal! Let's pile on some more BS, shall we? According to the parties, this is not DRM, rather a 'protected partition' enabled by SanDisk (or something like that). “Our files are not DRM tracks, but the area on the card that the music lives in is protected. If you are a paying customer, the door to that content is open. If you are not a paying customer, the door to that content closes," Cricket vice president of marketing Jeff Toig relayed.
But wait, it gets horribly worse. Because the files can only be played on a phone, Cricket will graciously allow you to purchase mobile speakers and docks to enjoy the restricted experience. “When we first began working with Cricket to model this new service, we quickly realized what a great opportunity it was to develop the first-ever US unlimited music service that comes bundled with a mobile voice, text, and web plan and is fully integrated into the phone itself," explained David Ring, executive vice president of business development and business affairs for Universal Music Group's eLabs.
And so is the case with Cricket Wireless' just-launched Muve Music service, which offers 'millions of MP3s' from all four majors. Download whatever you want as part of a $55 pre-paid monthly wireless package, and forget about limitations! Except of course, these limitations: songs aren't actually MP3s, they are Dolby PCM files encoded at the lowly 32 kbps. Those scratchy songs cannot be ported onto the PC, and currently, Muve is only available on one device—a modified Samsung Suede.
Sounds like a great deal! Let's pile on some more BS, shall we? According to the parties, this is not DRM, rather a 'protected partition' enabled by SanDisk (or something like that). “Our files are not DRM tracks, but the area on the card that the music lives in is protected. If you are a paying customer, the door to that content is open. If you are not a paying customer, the door to that content closes," Cricket vice president of marketing Jeff Toig relayed.
But wait, it gets horribly worse. Because the files can only be played on a phone, Cricket will graciously allow you to purchase mobile speakers and docks to enjoy the restricted experience. “When we first began working with Cricket to model this new service, we quickly realized what a great opportunity it was to develop the first-ever US unlimited music service that comes bundled with a mobile voice, text, and web plan and is fully integrated into the phone itself," explained David Ring, executive vice president of business development and business affairs for Universal Music Group's eLabs.
