Not Really Mobile File Sharing

from the nice-try dept

Plenty of people have been trying to warn content providers and mobile operators for ages that they're ignoring the threat of mobile peer-to-peer applications, and have even pointed to examples of prototype software from both SK Telecom and Nokia, but they still insist that they'll be able to charge ridiculously high prices for content on mobile phones. It looks like maybe the industry is trying to prevent this just a little bit with industry-supported file sharing offerings, such as a new one called Melodeo, which is pretty much how the industry views file sharing working in their ideal world -- which means it's probably not what most people want. Basically, everything is wrapped in copy protection. You'll be able to pass a song off to a nearby phone via Bluetooth, but if they want to listen to more than 30 seconds, they'll have to pay up. Beyond wondering how well the combination of mobile phones, Bluetooth and DRM will all work together (considering each seems to have its own share of problems, once you combine them all it's not hard to predict a fairly frustrating mess) it's hard to see what's so compelling about this offering to end users. Do people really want to buy songs from their friends?

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