Takes on iTunes with MusicStation store – HP
HP is squaring up to Apple and its iTunes music store with a plan to provide an unlimited music service in Europe.
The service, called MusicStation Desktop, will be available free for two weeks to customers buying the company’s Pavilion, Compaq Presario and HP Envy models. After that, costs € 9.99 per month.
Users do not need to be online, as you can download tracks for offline playback. They also get their favourite 10 tracks each month to treasure forever in a DRM free MP3 file format.
HP has signed up a bunch of record labels, including Universal, Sony, EMI and Warner, to support the service.
It is being provided through Omnifone, a company which specializes in cloud based unlimited music services, and which must be delighted HP didn’t go for the better known Spotify instead.
The labels see it as a way to counter piracy: “Universal is working closely with Personal Computer makers access support the introduction of music from legitimate consumer electronics related to consumption,” Rob Wells said, a senior VP at Universal.
“With its huge scale and user base, HP’s 10 country, the introduction of the HP Service Omnifone MusicStation unlimited music for the PC will help encourage legitimate access to digital music at Universal Music and other labels and independents. ”
Next week it will be available.
