Samsung Electronics, to Enter Online Music Market

Samsung Electronics will be advancing into the online music market, in hands with Napster.

Samsung Electronics, which held the “Global Roadshow 2003” in New York on September 16 (local time), announced that it has established a strategic alliance with Napster for cooperation in the online music business.

The partnership is considered to have been formed to dominate the emerging online music service market in advance, with the combination of Samsung`s technologies and Napster`s service brand and contents. With home appliance companies, such as Sony and LG Philips, and Apple Computer, Intel, Dell Computer etc joining the competition, global IT companies are expected to be engaged in a hegemony fight over the online music service market

Samsung Electronics and Napster are planning on co-inventing technologies for Napster 2.0, which provides paid music services, and for its exclusive players etc. They have decided to use family brand in their marketing activities related to online music business and on their products. Samsung will soon be introducing the “Samsung-Napster Player” in the US market, through which users could enjoy Napster`s music services.

Tae-Han Kim freewill@donga.com