Amazon.com has just launched its new , Amazon MP3, which offers play anywhere DRM-free music downloads.
stocks millions of songs without copy protection technology. Shoppers can buy and download individual songs or entire albums. The tracks can be copied to multiple computers, burned onto CDs and played on most types of PCs and portable devices, including the and Microsoft Corp.’s . All songs are compatible with iTunes and Windows Media Player. Genres include Alternative, Rock, Blues, Broadway & Vocalists, Children’s Music, Christian & Gospel, Classic Rock, Classical, Country, Dance & DJ, Folk, Hard Rock & Metal, International Jazz, Latin Music, New Age, Opera & Vocal, Pop, R&B, Rap & Hip-Hop, Rock and Soundtracks.
Amazon’s store competes with Apple’s iTunes. iTunes offers most songs using , which prevents unauthorized copies from playing. can frustrate consumers by limiting the type of device or number of computers on which they can listen to music. Copy-protected songs sold through generally won’t play on devices other than the iPod, and iPods won’t play DRM-enabled songs bought at rival music stores.