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August 10, 2005
Real Networks on Portable Subscriptions
Portable Subscriptions aren't ready for prime time yet, according to Rob Glaser, Real Networks CEO.
From The Real Networks Q2 report via Adam Brotman:
Regarding portable subscriptions - Rhapsody to Go – Glaser commented that "consumer hardware is not ready for primetime"; he believes that portable subscriptions won’t be “ready for primetime” until 2006 because of the hardware; and that portable subscriptions are “more hype than substance right now, and not likely to change until next year”. After all that fanfare around Rhapsody-to-Go just a few months ago. Very interesting indeed. Like I've been commenting recently, it seems that portable subscriptions are confusing to the average person looking to get into online music, and they don't work on the iPod and...they don't work on the iPod. So, portable subscriptions are having a slow uptake. I like how Glaser says that the "hardware isn't there yet to give a big boost to portable subscription uptake." That's turning out to be an understatement. Did I already mention that you can't use the iPod to play your portable subscription tracks?
Uh... how about using Replay Music with your Digital Music Service and your iPod???
Posted by Bill Dettering at August 10, 2005 12:12 AM | Technorati Tags: mp3 rhapsody real music ipod