RIM Launching a Music Service for BlackBerry?

Posted on 14 July 2009, at 10:30 am, by Jason Reese

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Now, this could be interesting. OK, BlackBerry fans…know how you currently take your iTunes music libraries and sync the non-DRM files to your ‘Berry? Maybe you just bypass iTunes altogether and have started using AmazonMP3 to get your non-DRM music fix? Well, looks like RIM could soon be letting users wirelessly download MP3 files directly from their BlackBerry devices via their own music store.

Electronista reported that RIM will indeed be launching their own music service to compete with Apple and Nokia’s own offerings. The music store is expected to be officially launched in September. I’m a bit curious how this will play out with the music services from wireless carriers — especially Verizon’s Vcast service. It looks like the music will be similarly priced to Apple’s own iTunes selection — $0.99 per track or $9.99 per album (perhaps U2’s mobile album will be the first offering?).

I have to say, my original hope was that RIM would work out an agreement with Amazon so users could download music from the AmazonMP3 service (like Android). Alas, this is better than nothing. I don’t know much about 7digital, but they announced their music service at this year’s Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES) that looked very promising.

CrackBerry.com shared a video of the service when 7digital and DevelopIQ (who made the handheld app) made their MP3 Music Store announcement at WES:

http://www.vimeo.com/5592361

The service will let you browse and purchase (I hope not via PayPal) music right from your BlackBerry. If you are on the cellular data network, you will download a “lower quality” version of a song. Once you are on a WiFi network, the song will be automatically replaced by a “higher quality” version. I’ve not seen the full bitrate info, so I can’t say for certain what the low vs. high quality difference will be.

Electronista reports:

BlackBerry users on a 3G network will download lower bitrate AAC tracks to save time, but can immediately move to 320Kbps MP3 downloads when on Wi-Fi. A sync feature will also connect the phone to a computer over Wi-Fi to transfer without requiring a USB link.

This brings up two important points, though:

1 -The importance of WiFi on BlackBerry devices. Sure, it looks like Verizon and Sprint are now opening up and allowing their CDMA BlackBerry handsets to include WiFi — but there are still many users on older models without that feature. Does this mean they can only download the “lower quality” MP3 files?

I would like to assume that any 3G capable device will be able to manage the high quality MP3 downloads via the cellular network, but since that is not explicitly stated through the sources I’ve read — and the Electronista info above says that even 3G connections will only support the lower rate transfers — I can’t confirm or deny whether this will, in fact, be the case. Since a large volume of users downloading music files over a cellular network will (further) strain those carrier networks, it could prove to be a big hit against RIM’s music service.

2 – The importance of a Desktop version of BlackBerry App World. Reiterating my prior comments on App World, if RIM wants to truly compete as an app — and now, music — store, they must include a desktop version of BlackBerry App World. Why? What if I want to browse, purchase, or download music to my computer and then sync it to my BlackBerry?

Yes, wireless is more convenient; but if I can’t get a good quality song through this service while on the cellular data network I’m not going to keep using it for long. Even if I can connect my BlackBerry to my computer via WiFi, there are still users (per #1) who won’t be able to since their devices excluded WiFi to begin with.

I don’t want to rain on any parades. I’m very excited about this announcement, and will certainly try out the service. I don’t think Apple has anything to worry about here, but the service is good news for BlackBerry users looking for alternatives to using their devices for music and media. But let’s be frank — it’s going to have to be better than the current BlackBerry App World service to succeed.

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