In AAS Insight number 3 (better known as AAS audio podcast no. 49), Rafe, Ewan and I discuss music-focusses smartphones and the Nokia Music Store. What makes a music phone? What do we think of the 'Store' and what do Nokia need to do next?
Read on in the full article.
The online store looks OK, appears to be a better effort than previous wma based online stores but Nokia need to,
- add more codecs than wma (m4a / aac please for non windows users)
- support more phones in its range
- offer greater bit rates than 192K (itunes now at 256K for some files, amazon US at 320K MP3)
- adjust it prices (appear to use the 8.00/album 0.8/track model to much! itunes now have older material at <5 etc.., but overall all online stores are too expensive when you consider that the reduced costs, store rental | packaging | transport & delivery | adverts etc...and reduced quality compared to CD, should be around 4 pounds an album)
- open store to non-nokia devices (amazon US have a good model, non drm mp3 at 320k with min fuss...)
But overall good start, but needs something to move it above the many wma based stores.