Wal-Mart testing web music service

[Vehementi]

Originally posted by poertner_1274
I think this Wal-Mart is going to come out with this head strong and simply dominat ethe industry. Because they can afford to lose money on the songs, it will just open up a new horizon for them. But in order to do so, as SNGX has s****ted they need to be able to download the explicit songs, because there is nothing worse than going to Wal-Mart and trying to buy a CD only to find out it is the edited version. That pisses me off. We'll just have to wait and see how this thing progresses.

I sure hope not. That may sound a little contradictory coming from me, the capitalist, but iTunes is a much higher quality and integrity service than anything Wal-Mart would put out. I'm a capitalist in Andrew Carnegie's sense, who's sole desire was to make a higher quality product at a lower cost, and thus dominate the industry by doing that. iTunes has many more redeeming qualities than WMA (Wal-Mart Audio), chiefly the media player program, MP3 support, and that you're supporting a computer company that you know (and love ) and not some cut-rate retail outlet who only wants to make money and conquer the market by doing it.

 

[StormBringer]

What are you talking about Veh, WalMart is simply selling songs in .wma format that can be played on any device that supports wma, which is quite a long list.

 

[poertner_1274]

I think they are just trying to use a different format, so they can have the marketshare in that department. I think this could be a smart move for them, especially since people have been talking about the future of MP3's and what will be the next generatoin. I don't think it will be WMA, but hey, it's a start.

 

[agrav8r]

Originally posted by poertner_1274
I think they are just trying to use a different format, so they can have the marketshare in that department. I think this could be a smart move for them, especially since people have been talking about the future of MP3's and what will be the next generatoin. I don't think it will be WMA, but hey, it's a start.

They are a large company who would have a great influence on the type of audio players that will be sold. The same thing I said with computers would like be done with players- say a 99 dollar wma player that holds 3g igs of songs and comes with 10 free downloads from waludio. com . If they go MP3 or another format, they allow the industry free reign to create any type of players they want.
They could say offer multiple format players or WMA on players or you won't get shelf space in our stores.

 

[chuonthis]

As far as I know, they are using WMA not because its a different format, but because it's one of the only other formats besides AAC that has DRM capabilities.

 

[Vehementi]

Originally posted by StormBringer
What are you talking about Veh, WalMart is simply selling songs in .wma format that can be played on any device that supports wma, which is quite a long list.

I'm talking about Wal-Mart stuffing out iTunes in the online music download industry. I don't want it to happen. I want iTunes to stay because it's a better service.

 

[poertner_1274]

Not to be nieve, but Wal-Mart hasn't even rolled out their service yet, and what makes you think that iTunes is going to be better when you haven't even seen what Wal-Mart has to offer yet?

 

[Krugger]

I have absolutely no idea why they would truly do this. it's been shown that online music retailers don't make much if any profit. Apple does it b/c it's to promote sales of its Ipods, and that's working marvelously. Dell is doing the same now with the DJ. Otherwise, why bother selling at $.88, as you can't make a profit on that. Unless of course they are trying to increase sales of MP3 players from their stores... which i guess is a possibility.
-Krugger

 

[StormBringer]

Here's a good reason Krugger, while you are waiting on your song selections to download, you can check out the selection of wma compatible players offered at walmart.com(insert monthly special here)

 

[agrav8r]

Originally posted by Krugger
I have absolutely no idea why they would truly do this. it's been shown that online music retailers don't make much if any profit. Apple does it b/c it's to promote sales of its Ipods, and that's working marvelously. Dell is doing the same now with the DJ. Otherwise, why bother selling at $.88, as you can't make a profit on that. Unless of course they are trying to increase sales of MP3 players from their stores... which i guess is a possibility.
-Krugger

It also sell computers, software and anything else they want to promote. plus they usually only cheap it out for a while and when the competition has thinned they go back to the regular price.

 

[Krugger]

Originally posted by StormBringer
Here's a good reason Krugger, while you are waiting on your song selections to download, you can check out the selection of wma compatible players offered at walmart.com(insert monthly special here)

yea, i thought about that as i was replying which is why i added that bit about players... guess it's an idea. don't know how viable though. how many people that don't have mp3 players already are into the pay for download game? well, i guess we'll see in a few months how it all shakes out.

 

[StormBringer]

Originally posted by Krugger
how many people that don't have mp3 players already are into the pay for download game?

They don't have to not have one, maybe they could use a new one, or maybe they need more storage, or headphones.

 

[poertner_1274]

There is an endless possibility of what 'other' things Wal-Mart could try to sell you while you are waiting for your music to download. And I'm sure if they have the right price, combined people will be very attracted to it. Say once you download 100 songs, you get a discount off of a player. Just another idea.

 

[SNGX1275]

And once they unveil their in store downloads (not mentioned other than in this thread) then its like Best Buy selling cds at a loss, chances are good that you are going to buy something else they sell while you are in the store.

 

[chuonthis]

Well, Walmart is already planning to sell Walmart laptops so maybe they're gonna be selling music players soon too. Just another step towards world domination.

 

[poertner_1274]

I remember reading this in another thread posted by someone here at TS. I think this is a good idea by walmart, because it will allow quite a few people the ability to own a laptop (or computer even) that probably couldn't afford one. Granted I'm sure it will be a POS, but it's better than nothing.

 

[agrav8r]

Originally posted by poertner_1274
I remember reading this in another thread posted by someone here at TS. I think this is a good idea by walmart, because it will allow quite a few people the ability to own a laptop (or computer even) that probably couldn't afford one. Granted I'm sure it will be a POS, but it's better than nothing.

Probably similar to what Emachines puts out. Good for a starting computer, but not much else. you get what you pay for.