The Register pointed to a press release from SanDisk about an announcement at CTIA on DRM enabled Flash Cards. “This will allow mobile network operators, service and content providers to protect their content property rights and ensure that consumers gain access to premium content, such as pay-per-view movies, video clips, digital images, video games, ringtones, realtones, MP3 music tracks and more on their mobile phone or portable device.” The principle part of the sentence being “protect their content property rights“, since there are other channels in place for consumers to gain access to premium content.
Actually, I think this is a good idea. It allows for some seriously large files to be added to the phone without clogging up the networks, or charging the consumer for bandwidth where an “all-you-can-eat” service is not offered. It also allows content providers to offer their goods without going through carriers. I doubt things like ringtones will be offered on a Flash Card unless they’re part of a larger package such as “All the content you ever wanted and most content that you didn’t about Star Wars Episode III”. Full movies can be offered if people want to watch them on the small screen. The best opportunity is with games, which can now get very complex. I hope to see some interesting innovation using the mobile platform with a large memory game…
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