RealNetworks Debuts MP3 Store, Teams with iLike, Verizon

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 30, 2008 - 9:39am.

Seattle - RealNetworks (NASD: RNWK) on Monday unveiled a "Music Without Limits" initiative, which includes the launch of a new DRM-free Rhapsody MP3 store and 100,000 album giveaway, full-song streaming and MP3 sales partnerships with iLike, MTV (NYSE: VIA) and Yahoo (NASD: YHOO), and an unlimited mobile subscription service deal with Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ). The Rhapsody MP3 catalog will include more than 5 million songs from all four major labels, available both for purchase and as full-song samples (25 songs per person per month) -- a feature not available at Apple's iTunes Store.

RealNetworks said it plans to spend more than $50 million in the next year and over $15 million in the third quarter alone to promote the initiative, including offering the first 100,000 people who sign up for the new store before July 4 a free album.

The partnership with iLike will see Rhapsody power full-song payback across iLike.com and the company's applications on Facebook, MySpace and other social media sites.

The unlimited mobile music subscription service through Verizon's V CAST music service will cost $14.99 per month, and include both mobile and PC versions of each song.