We don’t need any more DRM at this point in time. We have way too much of it now and it seriously has to stop. There, I said it. But why do I bring it up?
Microsoft decided that they need to implement yet another DRM system, this time for mobile phones and mobile devices. Dubbed “PlayReady”, this new DRM system is far more advanced than past Microsoft-designed systems. Now permanent copies of files can be made, subscriptions can be setup, and pay-per-view systems can now be used effectively. PlayReady is also file-independent, meaning it can be applied to multiple file-types including wallpaper, ringtones, and e-docs.
According to the article, several carriers/douchebags will be implementing the new DRM system in 2007, including O2, AT&T, Verizon, and Telefonica (guess the two non-American operators, win a cookie!) in the mix. This release of PlayReady comes days after Steve Jobs of Apple recently announced that DRM pretty much sucks and music companies need to stop using it. Is Bill banking on paranoid and greedy companies who love DRM to come to his aid? Only time will tell.
Microsoft adds third, ‘open’ DRM format for phones [Electronista]
DRM for cell phone wallpapers? Are you kidding me? Stop the world, I want to get off.
Should be interesting to see what happens to Cingular under it’s new AT&T masters. I can see AT&T’s board demanding that all it’s hardware providers lock-step with M$’s new DRM. Which should make Apple’s iPhone and Motorola’s iTunes compatible phones persona-non-grata at AT&T (like they already are at Verizon). If it does happen, maybe Apple will rethink it’s idiotic exclusive arrangements and open up the iPhone to other providers (which would be good for me, as there is no Cingular in my county and Edge Wireless is the only GSM provider).
Exclusivity only strengthens the carrier’s hand and does absolutely nothing for the consumer (and no, visual voice mail means nothing to me).