Nokia's ''Comes with Music'' Service to Be DRM Free in the Future

Nokia's Comes with Music service has been lauded and panned for its inclusion of digital rights management (DRM) security hooks with music purchases. However, a Nokia spokesperson has pointed to a possible future where DRM-free music will be the norm, and not the exception to mobile music purchases.

Adam Mirabella, Nokia's Director of Global Digital Music Retail told Channel News Asia, "We have dialogs going with all of our partners, and Digital Rights Management-free (DRM-free) is also on the roadmap for the future integration of 'Comes With Music'."

What is Comes with Music?

Comes with Music is Nokia's answer to the Apple iTunes store. Consumers purchase a Nokia device that is Comes with Music certified -- such as the 5800 XpressMusic, N96, and recently announced 5600 XpressMusic -- and then get a voucher to download an unlimited amount of music for 12-18 months from the purchase date.

This music is licensed to be used on the registered mobile device and one PC. To port the music to other media, such as a second mobile device or a memory card, additional licenses must be purchased. These additional licenses allow for the downloaded music to play freely on the other media.

Currently, over 12 major and minor labels have signed on with Comes with Music. This service is attractive to record labels as it enables customers to feed their need for the latest and local-sourced music, which being paid in a short-term subscription form for those limited licenses.

After the 12-18 month period is over, the music is the property of the purchaser, but they may not transfer it to other devices without purchasing a license to do so.

DRM-Free and the Comes with Music Business Model

If Nokia removes the DRM restrictions, users would no longer need to purchase additional licenses to port the music to other devices.

It would also enable the Comes with Music service to work with any Nokia device, not just specified Comes with Music models, and possibly devices from other makers.

However, DRM-free might also reduce the visibility of local-sourced music. One of the reasons for the Comes with Music model is to enable independent and local artists to have a venue to display their music while also having a fair shot for profitability. If this DRM-free music is enacted, these artists might lose that visibility under the pressure from larger labels and their more visible marketing efforts.

For Nokia to expand the Comes with Music service across its already dominant portfolio (38% global market share), DRM-free music might be the solution, but it will have to balance the propagation of what it makes available, with the ability to keep labels and carrier partners from losing out in the exchange.

Source: Channel News Asia via Phone Scoop