gBox partners with Universal, Google
updated 04:10 pm EDT, Mon August 13, 2007
gBox, Universal and Google
An as-yet unlaunched music site is aligning itself in a partnership designed to undermine the likes of Apple's iTunes Store, reports say. Called gBox, the startup is partnering itself with Universal Music, which has omitted Apple from the group of companies in its trial of DRM-free music. gBox will likewise offer DRM-free tracks from Universal, priced at 99 cents, the same cost as DRM-encoded tracks at the iTunes Store. Apple sells its DRM-free songs at an average price of $1.29.
Universal in turn has arranged a special deal with Google, paying for an advertising campaign which will refer potential customers to gBox. The ads will show up in association with Google searches related to Universal artists and albums, but should not override the results themselves.
gBox will launch on August 21st, the beginning of Universal's DRM-free trial period, which is set to end on January 31st except where the label has signed new agreements. Other companies participating in the trial include Amazon, Best Buy, Wal-Mart and RealNetworks.
uhm
08/13, 05:14pm reply
Well, there is a refund so the customer didn't lose its money. In the end they payed $0 and watched the movies but don't own them.
Google has the cash to close shop like this, other services don't. There bailing out in time, others are hanging on and building up sales they can never refund like Google did.
Peter Bonte
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
undermine iTunes?
08/13, 05:19pm reply
If it's DRM free, we can buy them, insert them into iTunes, and use them on our iPods. Apple has always claimed the iTMS was to support the iPod, so it sounds like a win-win for Apple and its customers.
hayesk
Professional Poster
Joined: Sep 1999
MP3 vs AAC
08/13, 06:07pm reply
It does not matter that the MP3s will be DRM-free. To many, this format is inferior to AAC.
brianwells
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2002
and....
08/13, 10:00pm reply
price wars aint a bad thing.
however - all of us know that the out-of-touch greedmongers at the record companies will s**** this up - and come running back to Apple.
robttwo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2005