Virgin Media to Launch World's First Unlimited Music Download Service

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Morden

Virgin media dont need phorm to track what is being downloaded on their network. the operative word is computer their network. As we are all connected to Virgins Network to get our internet all they require are tools to they already possess to track network use by reading the logs/packet sniffers. These sort of tools give you bandwidth used, what sort of traffic is being used ip source ip destination etc etc.

Example :- http://lachniet.com/cheaplogging/

Indeed - but Virgin have already stated in the press release:

No customers will be permanently disconnected and the process will not depend on network monitoring or interception of customer traffic by Virgin Media.

[Ignitionnet]

Being disconnected, temporarily or not I couldn't care less, at the arbitrary whim of a 3rd party is deeply concerning.

The product itself is an attractive proposal, however Virgin can shove the restrictions in the same place where 'Lord Carter' (he of 'I BS ntl shareholders' fame) can insert his farce of a report.

[rogerdraig]

none of these paid for download services will really take of until they include ALL music not just one companies catalogue

[BenMcr]

Indeed and thats why (once again) the press release says:

Virgin Media is negotiating with other UK major and independent music labels and publishers to ensure it can offer a complete, compelling catalog by the time it launches.

[rogerdraig]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Indeed and thats why (once again) the press release says:

Virgin Media is negotiating with other UK major and independent music labels and publishers to ensure it can offer a complete, compelling catalog by the time it launches.

i will wait and see but that doesn't say ALL, "complete" can be as limited as their idea of unlimited just depends what their idea of complete is

[Milambar]

At £20ish a month extra, on top of my VM costs, too expensive, not interested. Particularly when it will count towards my STM limits. Considering it will probably be "internal" bandwidth, as in not costing them peerage charges, it shouldn't be counted towards STM.

Now if they included say, x tracks a month with your subscription, then, I might be interested.

Overall, I think I will wait to see how this pans out, before deciding if I like the idea of this or not.

[Horace]

Originally Posted by nffc

Spotify hardly has any music anyway, since the big labels don't have the quality music normally, it's all old recordings and crossover.

Over 3 Million tracks available to UK users (it may be a lot more, that's going on an old quote) with more added weekly, 90k just got added yesterday. Pretty much everything I've searched for has been available. Notable exceptions are Pink Floyd and The Beatles but I have everything by Floyd on CD already. They cover many independent labels including CD Baby and Rough Trade.

I can't ever imagine taking Virgin's offer up but I would subscribe to Spotify if it ever went subscription only. It's so much more elegant than downloading, legal or not.

[one2escape]

Originally Posted by Horace

Over 3 Million tracks available to UK users (it may be a lot more, that's going on an old quote) with more added weekly, 90k just got added yesterday. Pretty much everything I've searched for has been available. Notable exceptions are Pink Floyd and The Beatles but I have everything by Floyd on CD already. They cover many independent labels including CD Baby and Rough Trade.

I can't ever imagine taking Virgin's offer up but I would subscribe to Spotify if it ever went subscription only. It's so much more elegant than downloading, legal or not.

While I like spotify you arent comparing like for like. You 'stream' the music with this you in theory keep the music and stick it on your Ipod can you do this with Spotify?

[Pushkar]

Originally Posted by one2escape

While I like spotify you arent comparing like for like. You 'stream' the music with this you in theory keep the music and stick it on your Ipod can you do this with Spotify?

No but for £240 a year, I could get bare albums from the shop in a Physical format, and you can get offers like 2 for £10.

And anyway, I'd like to directly support a band, not just a little cut of it.

Also, there is a Spotify app for iPhone/Android platforms coming out later this year, so no thank you Virgin Music!

Originally Posted by BenMcr

They kept this quiet!

http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/p...8879&highlight=

Virgin Media and Universal Music today unveiled plans for a ground-breaking digital music service designed to bring about a rapid and permanent change in the way UK consumers buy and listen to music.

The service -- a world first -- will enable any Virgin Media broadband customer to both stream and download as many music tracks and albums as they want from Universal Music's entire catalog, in return for a great-value monthly subscription fee. Downloaded music will be theirs to keep permanently and to store on any MP3 compatible device. An "entry level" offer will also be available for customers who download music regularly, but may not want an unlimited service.

Sounds interesting, I am sure it has it's place, but personally I would still be buying bargain cd's having spent thousands on my hifi rig.

Spotify is quite an interesting site I have been looking at, whether I would subscribe to what VM is offering I am not so sure.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by TaiLZ

Also, there is a Spotify app for iPhone/Android platforms coming out later this year, so no thank you Virgin Music!

For which you are going to have to pay - as it will for Spotify Premium only - so that is £120 a year. And then it will not allow you to do anything with those files apart from use them on the iPhone/Android phones.

And if you ever cancel the Spotify sub or it goes under, you will lose access to those files - just as you do with any other DRM file

Originally Posted by one2escape

While I like spotify you arent comparing like for like. You 'stream' the music with this you in theory keep the music and stick it on your Ipod can you do this with Spotify?

True, but what about download limits?

I mean if a person subscribed to the service they could not phone VM and ask for a temporary halt on the direct debit because they have reached their download limit could they?

If " unlimited " really was " unlimited " as defined in the dictionary I could see a place for the idea.

---------- Post added at 09:21 ---------- Previous post was at 09:19 ----------

Originally Posted by BenMcr

For which you are going to have to pay - as it will for Spotify Premium only - so that is £120 a year. And then it will not allow you to do anything with those files apart from use them on the iPhone/Android phones.

And if you ever cancel the Spotify sub or it goes under, you will lose access to those files - just as you do with any other DRM file

What happens if you cancel your subscription to VM Ben ? or dare I say VM go under ?

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by arcamalpha2004

If " unlimited " really was " unlimited " as defined in the dictionary I could see a place for the idea.

Well until they release the full T&Cs we won't know either way!

What happens if you cancel your subscription to VM Ben ? or dare I say VM go under ?

Er - they are MP3s so nothing - which is the whole point of why this is different to ANYTHING else (at the moment)

[Ignitionnet]

BenMcr on the hard sell again

---------- Post added at 10:06 ---------- Previous post was at 10:04 ----------

Originally Posted by BenMcr

As it has yet to launch I'm sure all the technical questions will be answered later on

As for monitoring and suspention I suggest people read this http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009...rter-broadband and realise it isn't just Virgin that are going to do it

I have read it and there is nothing in it about suspension of services nor is that a final report - the full one is out today actually and will address this. If they do decide to run with mandatory suspension regimes I'm emigrating early

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

BenMcr on the hard sell again

If they get the pricing right on this it will pretty much sell itself