With more devices coming equipped with 3G sans the contracts, (i.e. Amazon Kindle) I wonder if this could be possibility for the future for iTunes purchases.
1) You have a monthly service that gives you access to the complete library of downloadable songs, an all-you-can-eat like Zune or Napster or whoever else is doing it these days 2) You have a real 3g solution - EvDO RevA or HSDPA 3) You can browse the songs on your device - OR in the massive collection your service provides 4) You can stream from the service, play off the local device, or (if your home connection supports it) stream off a home computer, or listen to internet radio. 5) One reasonable, monthly fee for wireless access AND all-I-can-eat-downloads. Let me store files on my local device so I can play them back without connection.
Advantage? The hard drive can finally be relatively small without compromising functionality (8-16gb?), I actually get my music when / where I want it (no matter who it comes from), and the record companies can dole out royalties based on a portion of my monthly fee vs. individual songs. If your song is one of only 10 I paid for that month, I paid 1/10th my monthly fee for it. If it's one of 10,000 then I obviously didn't care much about it, and thus you shouldn't be paid much.
Don't expect this from Apple though. Their business model relies on iTunes as a revenue stream (and user lock-in). No, I'd expect this from Microsoft, Napster, Amazon (KindleMP3), or Google. Look for the wireless partner to probably be Sprint, as they have the unused bandwidth, wide network roll-out, and are DESPERATE for business.
before i was finished reading i was about to mention how you mean sort of like a kindle, but with music ..seems you've beaten me to it :)
anyways, the only problem with that is that the 'bandwidth problem' that the wireless companies with 3g (or even wimax if they really wanted money), would 'face' would create a real problem. imagine the person who streams every day, and how much bandwidth they use, compared to the person who checks their email on the device
i foresee problems such as tiered buying, similar to the road runner crap that's trying to be pulled.
@Zach Good points. The thing about Sprint is that they offer an "unlimited" data plan for $25 (as low as $10 if you play your cards right and are on a corporate plan). Couple that with a $15 a month plan for "all you can eat" music? I'd pay $25 a month to have access to unlimited music, everywhere.
A way to mitigate the bandwidth problem would be to cap the bandwidth on cellular traffic. So you want to "stream" off your home computer? EvDO streaming is only available up to 48k AAC - a reasonable amount. Once you're home and on wifi? No longer limited. Songs from the server aren't streamed at all, they're downloaded.
Like I said, good points, but I doubt that they're insurmountable. Plus, if you're only allowing song data (rather than internet traffic, at the base subscription level) then you have a lot less to deal with, and a possible up-sell.
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With more devices coming equipped with 3G sans the contracts, (i.e. Amazon Kindle) I wonder if this could be possibility for the future for iTunes purchases.
Here's a use for wireless on a PMP:
1) You have a monthly service that gives you access to the complete library of downloadable songs, an all-you-can-eat like Zune or Napster or whoever else is doing it these days
2) You have a real 3g solution - EvDO RevA or HSDPA
3) You can browse the songs on your device - OR in the massive collection your service provides
4) You can stream from the service, play off the local device, or (if your home connection supports it) stream off a home computer, or listen to internet radio.
5) One reasonable, monthly fee for wireless access AND all-I-can-eat-downloads. Let me store files on my local device so I can play them back without connection.
Advantage?
The hard drive can finally be relatively small without compromising functionality (8-16gb?), I actually get my music when / where I want it (no matter who it comes from), and the record companies can dole out royalties based on a portion of my monthly fee vs. individual songs. If your song is one of only 10 I paid for that month, I paid 1/10th my monthly fee for it. If it's one of 10,000 then I obviously didn't care much about it, and thus you shouldn't be paid much.
Don't expect this from Apple though. Their business model relies on iTunes as a revenue stream (and user lock-in). No, I'd expect this from Microsoft, Napster, Amazon (KindleMP3), or Google. Look for the wireless partner to probably be Sprint, as they have the unused bandwidth, wide network roll-out, and are DESPERATE for business.
before i was finished reading i was about to mention how you mean sort of like a kindle, but with music ..seems you've beaten me to it :)
anyways, the only problem with that is that the 'bandwidth problem' that the wireless companies with 3g (or even wimax if they really wanted money), would 'face' would create a real problem.
imagine the person who streams every day, and how much bandwidth they use, compared to the person who checks their email on the device
i foresee problems such as tiered buying, similar to the road runner crap that's trying to be pulled.
sorry for the double
but honestly, sprint may be desperate, but most companies these days enjoy sucking the life out of consumers if anyone hasn't noticed :(
@Zach
Good points. The thing about Sprint is that they offer an "unlimited" data plan for $25 (as low as $10 if you play your cards right and are on a corporate plan). Couple that with a $15 a month plan for "all you can eat" music? I'd pay $25 a month to have access to unlimited music, everywhere.
A way to mitigate the bandwidth problem would be to cap the bandwidth on cellular traffic. So you want to "stream" off your home computer? EvDO streaming is only available up to 48k AAC - a reasonable amount. Once you're home and on wifi? No longer limited. Songs from the server aren't streamed at all, they're downloaded.
Like I said, good points, but I doubt that they're insurmountable. Plus, if you're only allowing song data (rather than internet traffic, at the base subscription level) then you have a lot less to deal with, and a possible up-sell.