Software maker Roxio plans to reincarnate the Napster online music service much sooner than expected, launching a legitimate form of the once-dominant piracy hotbed by the end of the year. Napster 2.0 would include a downloadable music store with no monthly fees for Microsoft Windows users. It would offer online radio stations, exclusive recordings and community functions, such as the ability to see the songs collected and playlists compiled by other users.
According to another story on InternetNews.com, Roxio will bundle the Napster 2.0 service with its popular CD/DVD burning software. Roxio will also market Napster 2.0 heavily through the distribution agreement with Yahoo that came with the Pressplay acquisition. There are also plans in place for a major ad push to take advantage of the well-known Napster brand. The “kitty” logo, once the most hated image for the music industry, will be retained.
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