RUMOR CORRECTION: Microsoft does not block MP3s on Verizon phones

January 10, 2006 By

It took me a while to track this rumor down, but the team just sent me an update/correction. Here’s more from Wayne Hickey, who is doing PR for the Windows Media Team.

“It is absolutely untrue. Microsoft provided the technology for this deal only, and in no way placed restrictions on design or the use of other audio technologies as part of the deal. Verizon intended to support direct MP3 playback at launch, but their primary focus was over the air delivery and one of their other tech providers was unable to do direct MP3 playback by launch. They do support MP3 playback via transcoding to WMA via Windows Media 10 and are working to deliver direct MP3 playback shortly.”

The original story was reported here on Engadget, Techdirt, and ZDNET and was linked here on Memeorandum/Tech.

Filed Under: Blog Tips, Medical, Microsoft Office
  • met

    A bit late… this has been around blogosphere already. MS love went down by 5 points.

    I was sure MS didn’t stand to gain much from doing this. But micorosoft has never ceased to surprise me.

  • met

    A bit late… this has been around blogosphere already. MS love went down by 5 points.

    I was sure MS didn’t stand to gain much from doing this. But micorosoft has never ceased to surprise me.

  • Wow

    Wow.. it’s like #1 didn’t even read the post at all!

  • Wow

    Wow.. it’s like #1 didn’t even read the post at all!

  • met

    haha… Wow,
    I send this to scoble as soon as I read this. 2 days later it was on slashdot and digg.

    I should probably be more ‘vista’ about my post probably. So here goes….

    Scoble should have clarified this a long time ago.

  • met

    haha… Wow,
    I send this to scoble as soon as I read this. 2 days later it was on slashdot and digg.

    I should probably be more ‘vista’ about my post probably. So here goes….

    Scoble should have clarified this a long time ago.

  • met

    read the first line as :
    I sent this news to Scoble as soon as I read about it somewhere. :)

  • met

    read the first line as :
    I sent this news to Scoble as soon as I read about it somewhere. :)

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ scobleizer

    Met: I agree but I can’t answer something like this without having the facts from the team. Since two companies are involved it took some time to get the correct answer, sorry.

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ scobleizer

    Met: I agree but I can’t answer something like this without having the facts from the team. Since two companies are involved it took some time to get the correct answer, sorry.

  • Eric

    Iew– Transcoding is gross. Reminds me of the very first “Sony Network Walkman” I bought (and returned) several years ago. =P

  • Eric

    Iew– Transcoding is gross. Reminds me of the very first “Sony Network Walkman” I bought (and returned) several years ago. =P

  • Wow

    Met : Oh, so it was just a misunderstanding I guess.

    Anyway it really sucks to be MS since due to the decision of the partner company (Verizon) MS had to neuter the direct MP3 playback, and then get the flak for doing so.

  • Wow

    Met : Oh, so it was just a misunderstanding I guess.

    Anyway it really sucks to be MS since due to the decision of the partner company (Verizon) MS had to neuter the direct MP3 playback, and then get the flak for doing so.

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  • http://www.jaffacake.net/ Ben Rose

    So let me get this right…

    It doesn’t play MP3s,
    It will play MS DRM protected WMA files
    It will play MP3s converted to DRM protected WMA files
    It may play MP3s in the future?

    Will it play FLAC files? How about .M4A files?

    Cheers,

    Ben

  • http://www.jaffacake.net Ben Rose

    So let me get this right…

    It doesn’t play MP3s,
    It will play MS DRM protected WMA files
    It will play MP3s converted to DRM protected WMA files
    It may play MP3s in the future?

    Will it play FLAC files? How about .M4A files?

    Cheers,

    Ben

  • http://www.jaffacake.net/ Ben Rose
  • http://www.jaffacake.net Ben Rose
  • Goebbels

    “They do support MP3 playback via transcoding to WMA via Windows Media 10 and are working to deliver direct MP3 playback shortly.”

    Translation: it does not support MP3 playback.

  • Goebbels

    “They do support MP3 playback via transcoding to WMA via Windows Media 10 and are working to deliver direct MP3 playback shortly.”

    Translation: it does not support MP3 playback.

  • vzsucks

    How will MS and VZW make revenue if we continue downloading mp3′s from iTunes and swap them between the phone and the iPod ;)

    VZW uses the PlayForSure technology behind its vCAST services that supports WMA DRM unless I see that it supports mp3 universally (???)

  • vzsucks

    How will MS and VZW make revenue if we continue downloading mp3′s from iTunes and swap them between the phone and the iPod ;)

    VZW uses the PlayForSure technology behind its vCAST services that supports WMA DRM unless I see that it supports mp3 universally (???)

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  • Matt Hornyak

    Thanks for the followup!

  • Matt Hornyak

    Thanks for the followup!

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