14 DAY TRIAL // It is known that RealNetworks and SanDisk have struck a partnership to bring their products together and offer a better overall experience for the customer. It looks like they will be having company, as Best Buy just joined them as well as the Best Buy Digital Store, a new service that aims to compete with the iTunes Store.
The new service is powered by RealNetworks, Inc.'s Rhapsody music service, features both a permanent download store and a subscription download service. As part of this launch, Best Buy also will carry and promote the SanDisk Sansa e200R Rhapsody MP3 players, which, according to Best Buy, "have been optimized to work seamlessly with the Best Buy Digital Music Store."
It may not look like anything new, since both the SanDisk and RealNetworks offerings have been around for a while; however, this further polarization of the market is indeed something very new, a movement whose catalyst has been Microsoft.
"Our goal is to deliver entertainment to our customers how, when and where they want it, and to help them have the best possible experience," said Jennifer Schaidler, vice president of music for Best Buy, in the press release. "The Best Buy Digital Music Store and Sansa e200R Rhapsody are part of that goal allowing us to provide an end-to-end digital music solution that will deliver unique content and a premium customer experience. Whether they want to purchase downloads or a subscription and have access to all the music, we're giving consumers the ability to enjoy entertainment on their terms."
"We have spent more than two years developing the new Rhapsody, creating the best end-to-end digital music experience ever," Rob Glaser, Chairman and CEO, RealNetworks, said (presumably in-between bites) in the press release. "Our alliance with Best Buy and SanDisk provides an awesome marketing and distribution platform to deliver this great experience to consumers."
"SanDisk is proud to team with Best Buy for the launch of their Digital Music Store featuring Rhapsody 4.0," said Eli Harari, president and chief executive officer, SanDisk, in the press release. "This three-way relationship gives consumers everything they need to seamlessly obtain and enjoy their music."