MTV, Microsoft a powerful combination, say some
C|Net | at | by Mike
As Microsoft continues to enjoy mostly favorable reviews of its new Windows Media Player 11 jukebox software, analysts say the real boost for the company's latest foray into music is a partnership with MTV Networks.
As expected, Microsoft officially rolled out a test version of Windows Media Player 11 for XP on Wednesday, two days after the free software could be found in a new digital music player and elsewhere on the Net.
WMP 11 is the latest of Microsoft's jukebox players. Built into the beta version of WMP 11, released Wednesday, is Urge, the subscription digital music store launched on the same day by MTV Networks. The partnership was announced last January. On Monday, iRiver released Clix, the company's latest digital music player and the first device to feature WMP 11. This is all part of a larger plan by Microsoft to challenge Apple Computer's iTunes music store and iPod digital music player.