| It's only fair - since Apple was, after all, the practical | | | | want Apple to give them freedom to charge different |
| inventor of the digital music industry (not really, but with | | | | prices for different tracks, threatening to put an end to |
| the one-two punch of iTunes and the iPod, it sure feels | | | | the days when all songs cost $0.99. |
| that way), they should do everything in their power to | | | | Another related example of this Johnny-come-lately |
| make sure their latest brainchild, the iPhone, is the | | | | trend for the iPhone is how, along with the efforts at |
| absolute best smartphone for music around. Because | | | | improving the iPhone's music selection, Apple is also |
| currently, it's not. | | | | looking to expand its ringtone and ringback tone |
| According to a Monday, May 19th New York Times | | | | repertoire, wanting to make it possible for iPhone users |
| article, Apple is currently in talks with various major | | | | to directly download those tracks to iPhones over |
| music labels to, among other things, obtain permission | | | | data networks too. This while Nokia, for example, has |
| for iPhone users to download songs over the data | | | | already implemented its "Comes with Music" feature |
| networks of mobile carriers. If the talks are successful, | | | | that gives customers using certain Nokia models a full |
| iPhone users will be able to download tracks | | | | year's access to music in the EMI and Universal Music |
| purchased on iTunes directly to their iPhones - here's | | | | Group catalogs. |
| the key - over their wireless carriers' data networks. | | | | Ringback tones, incidentally, are what a caller hears |
| Until now (or as of September 2007, to be precise) | | | | after dialing a call and before the party called (or, let's |
| people can only download purchased iTunes music | | | | be honest, their voice mail) picks up. To date Apple |
| directly to their iPhones if they're within range of a | | | | has not yet offered ringback tones at all, making this a |
| wireless access point, be it a hotspot (like at the | | | | particularly significant negotiating point. |
| airport, Barnes and Nobles, or Starbucks) or a home | | | | In concert with these improvements, Apple will |
| Wi-Fi network. | | | | inevitably have to adapt its DRM (digital rights |
| Analysts merely cite this too-little-too-late story as a | | | | management) technology accordingly. DRM is the |
| case in point that, in the music arena (iTunes or no | | | | anti-copyright infringement technology that restricts |
| iTunes, iPod or no iPod), Apple really is playing catch-up | | | | how many devices (and which devices) an iTunes |
| with other smartphone makers. | | | | customer can play their purchased tracks on. Because |
| The music labels aren't making it easy on Apple, | | | | people will not be happy if they buy a song and |
| though, wanting more money-per-download from | | | | download it directly onto their iPhone only to find that |
| Apple for direct downloads over data networks than | | | | they're not permitted to play it on their MacBook, iMac, |
| from "sideloading" (downloading onto a PC first and | | | | iPod Touch, etc. too. |
| then transferring the tracks to an iPhone). They also | | | | |