Amazon: 6 million DRM-free songs on T-Mobile G1

It's true, Amazon just announced that its MP3 music store will be pre-loaded as an application on the T-Mobile G1. Users will be able to search, download, buy and play music from Amazon MP3 -- that's a selection of 6 million DRM-free MP3 songs from all four major labels and many independents. The pre-loaded Amazon MP3 application provides G1 owners with a phone-optimised view of the Amazon MP3 store -- WiFi is required to download music, but searching, browsing, and listening to samples can be done over 3G "the T-Mobile network." Tracks cost around $0.89 with most albums priced between $5.99 and $9.99. How you like them Apples, Apple.

[Drew Scott @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:38AM]

Whoops, looks like this one made it out a little too early!

[Charbax @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:38AM]

Nice one dudes. For people that don't mind paying $1 per song.

I wonder if Amazon will also provide unlimited subscription or advetising supported music streaming. That type of Android application would be cool, considering phones have so crappy storage and HSDPA should be more then enough to stream CD quality music.

[sti3 @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:00AM]

Amazon has special deals on albums for as low as $.99, and they're usually $7.99-$9.99 without discount. Every friday they have a selection of $5 albums. I am an emusic guy but I like the Amazon mp3 store quite a bit.

[Vanessa @ Sep 25th 2008 11:49AM]

Honestly... as long as limewire and other free programs are out there... i don't think anyone is going to pay for songs. I mean yeah its cheaper than the ave price of $1 a song. Ppl like FREE>>> more than any price.
0 :~ )

[horizontaleight @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:39AM]

How hard is it for companies to hold out news until the announcement time?

[Cory @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:40AM]

Good news, I've always preferred Amazon as a source of MP3s. Although, I was hoping for an over the air subscription model of sorts.

[sti3 @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:09AM]

That this and itunes on the iphone both require WiFi to download makes me think that providers simply don't want people using their data plans for downloading music in decent quality.

Also, I don't know of any phones/mobile platforms that actually make it easy to listen to existing internet radio streams, either using Edge/3G OR wireless. Buncha crap.

[fanman @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:17AM]

UK please?

[Brad @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:55PM]

@sti3: You can grab TCMP for Windows Mobile and listen to internet streams to your heart's content, even the higher-bitrate ones. I've had no problem streaming to my EvDO phone. Can't say I've ever tried it on a GSM 3G one though.

As for streaming music to Android? Here's one of the App finalists, with a video walk-through. At 4:40ish they show the Internet Radio interface. Also, it is just a nice looking player.

http://www.digginmobile.com/

[Ike Turner @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:42AM]

Awesome this will put my stereo bluetooth headphones to good uses.....
oops no the G1 doesn't support them!

[Charbax @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:44AM]

Yeah like 7 people in the whole world use bluetooth headphones.

[Chris G. @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:53AM]

Music via stereo bluetooth sucks. It isn't lossless (so your compressing already compressed music a second time), it drains the battery, and just plain doesn't work well with any phone I have tried it with.

That is why it isn't on that phone.

[chefgon_ign @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:53AM]

Well count me as 1/7. Bluetooth headphones are infinitely more convenient than the wired kind, I have no idea why people put up with them.

[Nomi @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:01AM]

They suck cuz they run out of battery before the phone and then you have to lug them around for the rest of the day...this is coming from using the Motorola S9s for almost 2 months before giving up.

[chefgon_ign @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:40AM]

@Nomi

Those motorolas must have sucked. I've got the Sony DR-BT22's and the battery lasts for over a week of regular use. I have to charge my player every single day, but I only charge my headphones once per week.

[Dan L @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:42PM]

This actually would be a deal breaker for me. I use my bluetooth headphones constantly- it's nice when in the gym where

a) I don't have to have wires hanging off me to the device (I hate the arm band things)

b) I can skip a track from the right headphone, and

c) answer a phone call easily, while on a machine!

My phone is my mp3 player, and if you're an active person they're totally worth the value. I just bought a 19 dollar pair and i'm telling you they're deceivingly cheap. they work flawlessly, sound just fine and oh....


...they came with an adaptor for a 3.5mm jack incase the phone's no stereo-bluetooth equipped....

...does the G1 have a 3.5mm jack?

[paul @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:46AM]

Exciting Stuff!

I wonder what else Google will pull out of the bag!

[webon @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:43AM]

no

[Nomi @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:59AM]

Ooooo...competition! I like....

[kwiky @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:05AM]

On french site : http://www.mobile-android.fr/?p=176

[FuzzyCat @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:06AM]

... but only in the USA, right?

for the rest of us how about 7digital.com ..

[dennis @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:07AM]

I wonder if they'll allow music downloads over 3G or EDGE.

Someone will have to offer me a CD in addition to the mp3s for me to get excited about digital downloads.

[DT @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:27AM]

No, only over WiFi. RTFA.

[JayMonster @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:30AM]

You kidding, right? Do you work for a record label by any chance? You do know that music can be recorded onto CD these days if you need a backup strategy right?

[dennis @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:42AM]

I want the CD because I want the higher quality audio data. It's worth it to me to pay extra for the CD than for the mp3 download. i'll pay 50% more for the CD (and I do). I've purchased one track from iTunes when the store opened, and "gifted" a couple albums to iTunes store users, and I've purchased one mp3 album from Amazon for $1. But that's all. An album in mp3 format is worth about $3 to $5 to me. I wouldn't accept a proprietary lossless file format either, either Apple's or MS's. I'm not trying to convert anyone, but I've held back from digital music downloads for this long, not just because of DRM, but also because of proprietary file formats. I don't want the CD to be displaced, it guarantees Fair Play use just by being around.

[Felix @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:11AM]

Google +HTC + amazon 1
Apple + Apple +apple 0

[DSeaver @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:56AM]

Definitely. Hopefully Apple will answer this with changes to iTunes.

When there's competition, the consumer wins!

[SteveJ @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:11AM]

I love my iPod Touch, but I really hope that T-Mobile and Amazon have huge success with this, because I am not at all a fan of buying music from the iTS due to the prevalence of DRM. Yeah, there are some DRM-free offerings, but there still seems to be a vast majority of DRM'd music. My primary source for DRM-free downloads is actually emusic. I want T-Mobile and Amazon to have success with this venture and put pressure on Apple, not so much to rid itself of DRM music entirely, though obviously that would be good, but actually to force them to open up the AppStore and stop making decisions about what can and can't be offered there. They need to let everything in, including things such as the Amazon music store. I want to be able to not only browse, but download tracks from emusic and the Amazon music store right on the iPod Touch. Perhaps ventures like this one will start to turn the tide and force Apple's hand lest their iPhone be seen as a platform that offers less instead of more.

[DT @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:16AM]

I agree with most of what you said. I like iTMS for how convenient it is, but the iTunes Plus (no-DRM, high-bitrate) selection is weak, so I usually buy from Amazon if I can't get it on iTunes plus. I suspect it's the labels, though, not Apple, who are keeping the DRM-free stuff from iTunes, so as to make Amazon a viable competitor to Apple. I WISH Apple would allow an Amazon MP3 downloader for iPhone, but that will never happen ("duplicates existing functionality", ie, competes with Apple).

[bob sakamano @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:17AM]

steveJ,

are you out of your mind?

asking apple to allow amazon to sell music via itunes is like best buy going "hey circuit city want to open up a kiosk in our store and sell things cheaper than us?"

[mike k. @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:21AM]

Really how hard is it to download an mp3 from amazon, and then load it on your ipod.. People need to realize that itunes store isn't the only way to get music for their device.

[Daniel @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:28AM]

Dude, why don't you just buy stuff off iTunes, then remove the DRM using doubleTwist?
That software rocks!

[dennis @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:46AM]

I agree with SteveJ. I don't think Apple will create any system around anything other than iTunes, and I don't have any problem with that, because the system works for a lot of people. But I do want more competition in the market. I'd like to see an Android app from CDBaby and others as well.

[fanman @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:13PM]

@Bob

My iPod is not apples store. This is entirly the point.

[krizoitz @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:06PM]

The reason that iTMS songs still have DRM on them is not going to change because Amazon puts preassure on Apple. Apple would be offering all the songs DRM free RIGHT NOW if the labels let them. Instead, fearing the strength of Apple, the labels aren't letting them do so in order to let Amazon's store build as competition. The fact that there is DRM on songs is 100% because of the labels. Steve Jobs has stated openly he hates DRM on music and would sell DRM free music if he were allowed to.

[Tubes @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:11AM]

The newest, most popular tracks at ten cents less than iTunes? DRM-free? Double the audio quality of iTunes?
My head just exploded!

Now, how easy will it be to turn those songs into ringtones?

[bob sakamano @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:19AM]

do people still care about ring tones?

[Cybergypsy @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:24AM]

if you are under 15 years old.

[Neeko @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:11AM]

if the hardware is their im sure stereo BT can be added later on by developers.. So simmer down and let the product come out. And CONGRATS to Amazon for giving the people a great option from the start on such a popular device. Apple is NOT the only show in town.

[dandaman @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:23AM]

this is looking NICE. I hope the G1 can be unlocked for a relativly good price. I just shelled out $200 to Verizon so I could get an iPhone 3G, tired of waiting for Android. I do NOT want to go through that again.

[Cybergypsy @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:23AM]

Looks like a handheld GPS unit....Loser!!!

[Cybergypsy @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:26AM]

LOL Apple has nothing to worry about!

[haX0r @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:47AM]

don't think the apples doesn't have to worry. Google's app store is going to have more apps for it in less time than apple has. In addition, apple has to "check out" all apps before they are loaded on your little iphone or ipod. My girlfriend has an ipod and since she loaded a couple of appz, it has been giving her problems and not playing all of her song.

Google has made a true opens source phone. So much so that many of the companies out there building phones are clamering around google right now to get a Android based phone out on the market.

Also, their phones are tied to one design. Within 3 years, Android will probably pass Apple in the OS arena. Now that they've added Amazon, you can surely bet that Apple understands the threat from this OS.

Besides, you don't even have a landscape qwerty and you locked to an OS that is truly not open source.

So don't be butt hurt that.

[Sean D @ Sep 28th 2008 5:32PM]

HAHA! More nonsensical blather from an Apple hater. "My girlfriend loaded apps and now her iPhone doesn't work". Dude, do you think anyone believes that claptrap?! Short answer: NO. The REASON that Apple "checks out" apps is precisely BECAUSE they don't want apps to "break" the iPhone. I have tons of apps on my iPhone and none of them have "broken it". I doubt you even have a girlfriend, let alone one with an iPhone.

Again, we have knuckleheads that are just *craving* that "iPhone killer". When it is *because* of the iPhone that we even HAVE something cool like Android. Do you think if it weren't for the iPhone that Google would be working so, so hard to make Android? Take a look at the first Android device from T-Mobile. It's a lump of junk. The browser is clunky, the hardware is all plastic and feels cheap, the buttons are stupidly laid out, there is no no multitouch functionality, and so once again you have a failed "iPhone killer". THAT is what happens when you have no control over your software *and* hardware. The iPhone is so loved and so popular because it just WORKS and works beautifully.

Keep dreaming that some company is going to "overtake" Apple. I have heard that garbage about mp3 players for YEARS now, and guess what? NONE have done it. The iPod still reigns supreme, and it continues to innovate while all other play catch up, or pretend that having a good FM tuner makes their junk better (another short answer: It doesn't). I heard over and over how Vista was going to be the "OS X killer". HAHA! Yeah, riiiiiiiight. It's "killer" alright, kills anyone using it with frustration.

Apple has guidelines for the "human interface" for a *reason*, so you don't end up with the spotty, lousy collection of software that plagues other platforms. Mac stuff just works, and works elegantly.

So Amazon has come out with their new "iTunes killer", well I heard the same about Rhapsody, and on and on. Anything that gets rid of DRM is great, but it isn't Apple that is pushing DRM, it's the record labels. You watch though, if this Amazon thing takes hold, how long do you think it will be before Apple is pressuring labels to drop all DRM? Another short answer: very soon.

Keep dreaming about an "(whatever Apple product) killer", meanwhile Apple keeps producing elegant, awesome, beautiful and superior products that just work, work well, and are a joy to use. Perhaps while you're dreaming about that, you might consider just giving up your sour grapes and buying a device that is excellent, that is, anything made by Apple.

[whowhatme @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:27AM]

WIN.

[Daniel @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:30AM]

HEY! I have an idea!!! Why doesn't someone rip this app for the iPhone/iTouch, & submit it to the app store? Oh wait - Apple doesn't like competing software which "doubles up on pre-existing apps." DANG! Well, at least it could find a nice home in Installer, right?

[chefgon_ign @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:38AM]

This is such a freaking tease. I'm a T-mobile customer, really looking forward to this phone.

Amazon MP3 is my music store of choice.

AND THE PHONE IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH MY HEADPHONES. ARGH!

[sti3 @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:14AM]

If you're talking about 1/8" headphones, I just got two adapters from Hong Kong for $4 shipped. Yeah they took two weeks to get to me but still, BARGAIN!

[Dale @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:41AM]

Pah, give me an eMusic app any day. I pay $25/month for 100 DRM-free downloads.

[sti3 @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:40AM]

That would be great--do they have one for iphone though?