AT&T Tech Support 360
January 9, 2006 3:39 PM PST
Verizon music service disables MP3 support
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In most cases, customers can still transfer their own music to the phones, and many may not even notice a difference. Microsoft's Windows Media 10 software will automatically make a copy of MP3 songs on a computer's hard drive and load them onto the phone in the correct Microsoft-based format, leaving the original unchanged.
But that software is only available for PCs today, leaving customers with Apple Macintosh or Linux-based computers out of luck, unless they find a different way of translating their MP3 songs into Microsoft's format.
"We don't view this as restricting functionality," said Jesse Money, Verizon's director of consumer multimedia services. "We wanted one music player on the phone with a simple and consistent look and feel throughout the player. If we were to leave (the MP3 support intact), then there would be two players with different experiences."
Verizon's V Cast Music service marks the most
Launching on Jan. 16, it will offer customers the ability to download songs directly to their phones for $1.99 each, or to a PC for 99 cents. Songs purchased through a PC can also be put onto the phone to listen to later. Either way, customers will receive a copy of the song for both PC and phone use.
Mobile-phone companies, as well as record labels, have been eagerly watching the surge in consumer spending on ring tones, which often cost $2.50 or more. Because people are used to spending a premium for instant access to content on cell phones, customers are also likely to accept higher prices for downloading full songs to phones, executives have said.
The V Cast service, which will compete with a similar music download service recently released by Sprint Wireless, will initially be available on a small number of phones, including the LG VX8100 and the Samsung a950.
Both of those phones have previously been advertised as offering support for MP3s. On Samsung's page, a line that previously said the phone could "
A Microsoft spokesman said neither the company's technology, nor its deal with Verizon, had barred the phone company from supporting other audio formats.
Money said people who own either phone can choose to retain their old music software, which allows them to play MP3 files directly on the phone but will prevent them from using the new online music service. Customers who want to upgrade to the V Cast Music software should take their phones to a Verizon store to be upgraded in a process that should take about 20 minutes, Money said.
New versions of the phones will come with the V Cast Music software pre-installed.
Verizon has previously been sued by customers who alleged that it
The PCS Intel blog site which
See more CNET content tagged:
Verizon V-Cast Music,
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digital media,
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And when they do this I am sure they will EXPLICITLY be told by the caring and informed staff that the functionality that they currently have is being removed as part of this 'upgrade'...right?
I smell another class action. (not from me...I'm in Canada...Verizon...what dat?)
Before I bought my last phone I wanted to make sure that I could:
a. Transfer MP3 files to the phone (to use as ringtones)
b. Synchrnize the address book
c. Transer pictures from the camera phone to the PC.
I knew all of these features were supported in the handset but I didn't know if they had been disabled by the provider.
Since you can't trust the salespersons word for anything, I brought a laptop to the store and tried all three on their demo phone, it all worked so I bought the phone and it still works fine.
FTR I ended up with a Motorola V330 on T-Mobile.
Sorry, but the "file-format" has nothing, what-so-ever, to do with the "look", or "functionality" of the "player". The only real-reason to do this is to impose DRM, remove "funtionality", and thereby create customer LOCK-IN, and CONTROL.
Of course, I am still mad that Microsoft used "XP-SP2" to install their latest "Media-Player" (at the time), and all their MS-DRM, whether I wanted it, or not.
"...There would be two players with different experiences." This is their excuse for hosing MP3 playback? B.S. Anyone who's used most of the phones these days has plenty of "different experiences" in terms of user interface.
Besides, how this this any different that a "different experience" with Windows Media Player vs. QuickTime Player vs. Real Player vs. Winamp, etc., etc., etc. on a PC?
No, the real issue here is Verizon's decision to bow to Microsoft and the viral expansion of DRM.
love another (Microsoft convicted of anti-trust behaviour!)
This would be like Verizon DSL not allowing me to choose my
own music service!
These chuckleheads will NEVER learn! Mobile data will take off,
WHEN THEY ALLOW CUSTOMERS CHOICE!
It's an already well established fact that 80+% of digital music
buyers have chosen iTunes... Now VZW is tryingb to dictate that
choice...
As a Verizon Wireless customer, I am outraged! I want iTunes on
my phone, just like on my Mac (er, VZW doesn't support Mac
users either!)
When my contract is up, it's hasta la vista to the monopolists!
That said, if work didn't pay for my phone I'd be ditching Verizon. I've got a nice phone I bought for features but Verizon wants to disable everything and recharge me for the features to be added back in their limited closed system.
When I web site is found to be selling cameras of camcorders at a very low price by removing all the extras and reselling them back as a package at a much inflated cost, the vendor rating site slay them as fraudulent. Customers are furios and state such companies should not be allowed to use the internet.
How is Verizon acting any differently? They've take my phone and removed the features and try to sell them bakc to me at very inflated rates.
That being said, the article was slightly misleading. You'll still be able to play your own music - something the article should have mentioned right up front. It's specifically the mp3 format that cant be played. I dont quite get why that is as the windows media player can handle mp3's...so it must be something thats actively disabled by verizon to 'persuade' their milk cows to buy their music from them.
that's why.
Peace