Apple Inc (AAPL)

[fmikehugo]

Microsoft-led coalition bands against Apple iPod - 09:29

RegHardware reports Microsoft (MSFT), Toshiba, JVC, NTT DoCoMo, Creative, iRiver and three other cos have banded together in a bid to prevent Apple's iPod from completely dominating the Japanese portable music player mkt. The nine cos yesterday said they would cooperate to promote Windows Media-based music and video services in a programme not unlike the Plays For Sure scheme MSFT launched in 2004. The cos will all stress how compatible their respective software, devices and services are and how well they all work with Windows PCs. The move follows the launch of a Japanese version of the Windows Media Player 11 beta release. Certainly, computer downloads are becoming increasingly popular in Japan, accounting for 10% of music download sales in Q1, according to figures published by the Recording Industry Association of Japan this week. That figure is up from 4.7% in Q1 2005, the organization said. Apple launched its iTunes Music Store in Japan in August 2005, and it's been leading the growth in demand for music downloads to computers. But such downloads accounted for just 6.7% of all the songs downloaded in Q1, up from 2.1% a year earlier.