Macworld 09: Apple iTunes going DRM-free, with over the air downloads

Posted by Katherine Hannaford on Tue 6 Jan 2009

Downloading legally is suddenly much more appealing

They've sold over 6 billion songs on iTunes worldwide, and they're just about to sell a few billion more with this announcement - they're going DRM free!

Over 10 million songs will be sold DRM free at the end of the quarter, today it will be 8 million. They're also introducing new prices, varying between 59p, 79p and 99p, however more songs will be offered at 59p than any other price.

Whilst the news will interest those who've been waiting for a strong reason to buy music legally online, Ben Drury, CEO of UK online music retailer 7digital slammed Apple after hearing the DRM-free tracks will be in AAC format. "The AAC file format is only compatible with iPods/iPhones and a limited number of other devices. So consumers who buy downloads from iTunes are still restricted to where they can play that music regardless of whether it's DRM free or not".

Over the air downloads will be launching, something many have been hoping for since the launch of the iPhone 3G. The songs will cost the exact same when downloading on the iPhone via 3G, as they do on the computer. All of this, launching today.

Link: Apple

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