RealNetworks' Rhapsody Goes Online

RealNetworks' Rhapsody Goes Online

RealNetworks is launching a new web-based version of its subscription music service Rhapsody. The new subscription service will allow users to listen to music directly from a website called rhapsody.com. The online service will also be compatible to Macintosh and Linux based PCs.

Previously Rhapsody was available only through a specific software application downloaded on Windows enabled Computers.

“This will expose the Rhapsody experience to users, right on their Web browser. What this will do is give users on the Mac, Windows and certain distributions of Linux the essence of the Rhapsody experience,” said Karim Meghji, RealNetwork's vice president of Music Services.

Rhapsody's online expansion is an attempt to increase its accessibility. The approach has a lot of merit,” said Joe Wilcox an analyst for Jupitemedia. “Real is taking Rhapsody beyond the [PC software] and opening it with respect to other platforms, plus it brings the first real subscription music service to Mac and Linux-based products.”

Real is particularly positive about its penetration into the Apple and Linux communities. “We believe the Mac and Linux communities will appreciate this step of being able to access Rhapsody” Meghji said.

Users of rhapsody.com will be able to choose 25 songs every month from its catalog of 4 million songs and listen to them free of cost. On subscribing to the service it would be possible to listen to any number of songs. Analysts believe that the free music will promote subscription.

“People use the Web and search tools to find more music. If (companies) can provide that easy entryway--that showroom to try the services out before buying--it is an important step,” said GartnerG2 analyst Mike McGuire. Real, however considers free music as an equally lucrative option. “If it turns out the vast majority decide they want to listen for free that's great because the Internet advertising market is doing pretty well, too,” said RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser.

To further improve Rhapsody's reach, Real will allow other websites to connect to Rhapsody songs through links called Rhaplinks.