Savvy online retailer intends to compete with Apple iTunes, among others in the digital music realm.
Wal-Mart officially went live with its digital music download service, which enables customers to
download a variety of music directly from its retail Web site
for just 88 cents a song.
The new service, which boasts a catalog of more
than 300,000 songs, looks to compete directly with
other download sites, such as iTunes, RealNetworks and Roxio. The company is
looking to make a dent in the music download market specifically with its
own customers, noting that of its 138 million customers, two-thirds have Internet access, and
two thirds of those use broadband.
Wal-Mart said users can play downloaded music -- available in WMA format
-- on their Windows PC, burn songs to a CD or transfer music to compatible
portable devices. Usage rights are uniform across the entire catalog of music,
simplifying the experience of owning downloaded music for customers, the
retailer said.
The service had been in test mode
since December to gauge customer response. As a result of this feedback,
Wal-Mart added several key new features to the service, including a new "download manager" for downloading full albums and groups of songs
more easily, enhanced search and browse functionality and 24/7 phone and e-mail
support.
To entice users further, Wal-Mart also landed a
deal with Country label Curb Records, which is making its songs available for
download –- for the first time -- exclusively on Walmart.com for the next two
months. Curb’s roster includes country stars Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes and Jo Dee
Messina, among others. Walmart.com said it will also offer exclusives from
Jessica Simpson, 3 Doors Down, Black Eyed Peas, Hilary Duff and Shania Twain.
For more information, or to try out the
new service, visit Wal-Mart here.
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