Nokia and Microsoft have effectively renewed their DRM ties with the announcement that Nokia will support PlayReady, the successor to Windows Media DRM 10, in the S60 platform (as well as the Series 40 platform).
Support for PlayReady is not likely in devices before 2008. Therefore, it probably won't be part of the rumored N81 or Nokia music service, both of which are expected to be announced on 29 August. However, it offers Nokia the ability to piggy-back off the large munber of music download sites which use Microsoft DRM technology, as well as offer the operator and content provider benefits hinted at in the press release.
One of Nokia's challenges in building its S60 (and Series 40) devices as viable alternatives to the you-would-think-everyone-has-one iPod depends on the ready availability of downloadable music. Unfortunately, dispite attempts by most operators to provide this through music download services their success seems to have been limited. Given my experience of Vodafones service is New Zealand - where they won't resend the DRM keys to devices purchased independently or reflashed from the Nokia update service - Nokia needs to risk the wrath of operators if it is to build a viable music orientated handset business.
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