HP has switched its allegiance from Apple to RealNetworks
HP dumps iTunes for Rhapsody
/v3-uk/news/1991375/hp-dumps-itunes-rhapsody
05 Jan 2006, Iain Thomson , V3
HP has announced that it will no longer bundle Apple's iTunes software with its PCs and laptops.
The PC and printer vendor used to sell iPods under its own brand and has bundled the iTunes software since 2004.
But HP stopped selling iPods last year and has now formed an alliance with RealNetworks to bundle its Rhapsody subscription music download service.
"HP is committed to bringing consumers the best PC entertainment experience, " said Bob Lund, a general manager at HP's Personal Systems Group.
"We selected Rhapsody because we want to give our customers a compelling choice for music management software and easy access to a leading subscription music experience on the web."
HP users will be able to listen to 25 tracks a month free of charge or buy them at 99 cents a track or $9.99 an album. For an additional $14.99 a month they can subscribe and transfer their music to portable media players.
Under the terms of the deal Rhaposdy will become the default music player on HP PCs and users can also download and share film content.
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
real sucks
Real's software should be labeled malware.it runs processes in the background all the time and it's software slows down your system immensely. I'm sure HP got a great deal from Real, because there is no other reason why any would select Real over iTunes.
Posted by john, 05 Jan 2006
HP shoots itself in the foot again
Why would you drop the number 1 Download service, for an iferior product? Because you're HP
Posted by Alex, 02 May 2006