Musikindustrie: Microsoft vs. Apple

Last week the opening shots were fired in the long-anticipated battle between Microsoft and Apple to gain command of the online music business. Microsoft unveiled its new beta Windows Media Player and announced the launch of a so-called built-in Digital Media Mall that offers access to online music stores such as Napster, Musicmatch, MusicNow and Wal-Mart Music Downloads.

manche sehen das als keine Gefahr für Apple
“The more the digital music landscape changes, the more it stays the same,” […] “Microsoft’s music launch offers nothing new to the consumer, and we believe it will do little to challenge Apple’s leadership position.”

andere sehen mindestens zwei potenzielle Probleme:

experts […] believe that Apple may be vulnerable because of at least two strategic issues.

zum einen:
Apple’s strategy of using its software (iTunes) to sell hardware (iPods), die an alte Fehler erinnert: Apple chose to go with a closed system, refused to license its software and made pricing mistakes

zum anderen:
that as part of its iTunes and iPod business model, the company has been steadfast in its belief that downloads are the future. Apple believes that consumers want to own their music, not rent it […] Apple could face problems since it apparently has no plan to offer a streaming music service., und das könnte ein Problem sein, wenn sich das Gegenteil herausstellt … Microsoft hält sich diesen Weg offen: The main technology Microsoft has included in its latest Media Player is called Windows Media Digital Rights Management 10, code-protection software that would give portable music players access to all-you-can-eat subscription music services.

ein Weg wäre also doch: for Apple to offer a streaming service for iTunes, especially given its large database of one million songs. […] he expects music services to bill customers in the same way that cell phone or cable services are charged. “Saying subscription services don’t work is just wrong.” […] Apple should investigate other ways to monetize iTunes, such as charging a monthly fee for usage.

das eigentliche Spielfeld wird dann vermutlich das “Wohnzimmer” sein:

The real battle, however, may be for the living room. The company that offers the operating system for home entertainment could benefit for years to come. It will be a long, hard battle, and Microsoft and Apple have different approaches. Microsoft’s vision is driven by its software strategy; Apple sees software and hardware as symbiotic, but has a greater focus on hardware because that is where its profit margins are fatter

und hier ist Micosoft ein gefährlicher Gegner: […] doesn’t expect Microsoft-powered devices to become a major factor until the second half of 2005. Once those devices become attractive to consumers, Microsoft will become a force with which Apple will have to reckon. “Microsoft will ultimately be cheaper because it’s not out to sell hardware,” […] “It usually starts out badly in a new market, but then it either gets better or it terrifies the competition.” Usually it does both.

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