View all newsletters
Receive our newsletter - data, insights and analysis delivered to you
  1. Technology
November 9, 1995

MCI SERVICE TO SELL COMPACT DISKS OVER THE PHONE

By CBR Staff Writer

Companies have been trying to come up with an electronic means for people to buy music for two or three years now, but the boldest, IBM Corp’s technology for enabling you to get the compact disk – and track listing perchance, of your choice made up right there in the store from downloaded music streams seems to have foundered on the rocks of record company antipathy. Far less revolutionary, but probably more practical, is MCI Communications Corp’s 1-800 Music Now on-line record store announced yesterday, which takes the dear departed listening booths from the days of 78s and 45s right into the comfort of your home – at the same time cutting the audio quality right back to the 4KHz slice you get on the phone. Once you are through to MCI’s US toll-free number, you use the touch-tone telephone keypad to navigate through a vast menu to choose snippets you want to hear from a possible 20,000 songs from 5,000 abums and then order the compact disk on which anything you like is recorded. Callers will be able to listen free to as many snippets – each of only 20 to 30 seconds duration, as they want. MCI hopes to make money selling the disks and will ask customers making their first call to set up accounts by providing their credit card number and address. MCI has also set up alliances with radio stations in more than 100 US cities: the stations will promote the service, offer promotions and recommend albums. Prices are expected to be nearto those in record stores. All major labels are said to have agreed to supply MCI’s venture, which will later get rather more sexy: it will start out with a catalogue and an Internet site, and the company also plans to move to more advanced technology.

Content from our partners
How businesses can safeguard themselves on the cyber frontline
How hackers’ tactics are evolving in an increasingly complex landscape
Green for go: Transforming trade in the UK

Websites in our network
Select and enter your corporate email address Tech Monitor's research, insight and analysis examines the frontiers of digital transformation to help tech leaders navigate the future. Our Changelog newsletter delivers our best work to your inbox every week.
  • CIO
  • CTO
  • CISO
  • CSO
  • CFO
  • CDO
  • CEO
  • Architect Founder
  • MD
  • Director
  • Manager
  • Other
Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.
THANK YOU