Rhapsody goes DRM-free, Verizon users get MP3 downloads

The assault on iTunes continues apace as Rhapsody, known mainly for its monthly music subscriptions, launches an MP3 music store—and as part of the deal, Verizon Wireless users with select V Cast phones will get DRM-free PC downloads.

In a nutshell, the Rhapsody/Verizon deal means more tunes free from copy protection—and thus compatible with any MP3 player, PC, or digital music device. (The majority of songs in the iTunes music store are still saddled with DRM, meaning they'll only work on iPods and the iTunes software.)

Another benefit for Verizon V Cast users—you'll be able to side-load Rhapsody subscription tunes to your phones. More on that in a minute.

I met with Rhapsody PR reps last week, who told me that their new MP3 store (which is now live) will be stocked with five million tunes from the four big labels and several indies at launch. (By way of comparison, Napster's MP3 store has six million songs, while iTunes has about eight million.)

DRM-free tunes will be encoded at 256Kbps and sell for 99 cents each, with most albums going for $9.99. There's also a Windows-only download utility that'll import your music directly into iTunes, RealPlayer, or the Rhapsody client; Mac users will get their songs in a ZIP file.

Meanwhile, those with specific Verizon Wireless V Cast phones (including the upcoming Chocolate 3, the new Dare, the Samsung Glyde, the Juke, the RIZR Z6tv, and the RAZR V9m) will be able to buy tunes from Rhapsody over the air, and get an MP3 "master" PC download in the bargain.

Over-the-air V Cast Rhapsody music downloads will still cost $1.99—kinda pricey, considering that Sprint Music Store downloads are 99 cents each—although you can always buy songs on your desktop first for 99 cents each and then transfer them to your phone.

V Cast users (or at least those with compatible handsets) will also be able to transfer Rhapsody subscription music to their phones via USB. Unlimited music subscriptions still go for about $13-15 a month, and yes—they're also still copy protected.

For now, you won't be able to download subscription music over-the-air to a V Cast phone. I asked Verizon and Rhapsody reps if that ability would be coming soon; possibly maybe, they told me, but not in the immediate future.

Of course, AT&T users can already side-load Rhapsody, Napster, and other subscription tunes to their music-capable phones, but Rhapsody reps promised a much more seamless experience for V Cast users—for instance, they said the Rhapsody client will launch automatically when you connect your phone to your PC. Sounds good, but I'd like to see that in practice.

Overall, I have to say … more DRM-free MP3 music is always a good thing, Just think—at the beginning of last year, none of the major music labels were selling DRM-free tunes yet. Now they all are, and even if they're only doing it to steal market share from iTunes, music lovers still win.

Also, Rhapsody is running a giveaway this week: The first 100,000 people to sign up with the MP3 store will get their first album free (the deal runs though July 4).

What do you think—are you on the DRM-free MP3 bandwagon yet? Any V Cast users interested in side-loading Rhapsody subscription songs?

Note: For the record, the Verizon phones compatible with the new "V Cast with Rhapsody" service are: the Chocolate 3 (coming in July), the LG Decoy, the LG Dare, the Moto W755, the Samsung SCH-U550, the Glyde, and the Juke. You can also take the following phones in to a Verizon Wireless store for a free upgrade: the Motorola RIZR Z6tv, the RAZR V9m, and the LG VX8700.