Download store 'takes on iTunes'

Brit download store 7digital says it will "take on iTunes" in the battle for digital music and video. The download service, which relaunches on Tuesday, is promising cheaper prices and greater ease of use than the Apple store in a bid to attract customers. Certain songs will be sold for 50p, and many are available in the widely-used MP3 format with no copy protection.

Apple's iTunes has about 80% share of the digital download market, but it has its critics.

Aside from Apple's iPod, many portable music players have trouble playing songs bought at the iTunes store because of the format it sells, whereas MP3s are compatible with most music devices.

iTunes owns 80% of the market because about three-quarters of the portable audio devices out there are iPods. "MP3 is really what the consumer wants," said Ben Drury, managing director of 7digital.

"We want our songs to be playable on as many devices as possible".

Mr Drury also insists that 7digital will never store personal details in files bought from the store.

This comes after it was discovered that iTunes files without copy protection - known as Digital Rights Management (DRM) - contained the full name and account information, including e-mail address, of the person who bought them.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6745057.stm