The newest beta version of Napster has hit the Web with all the latest features and fixes. Despite an impending subscription fee, it’s currently free to use.
The big question is, for how long?
One view is that Napster will remain free forever. This has led to what some call a “file sharing application war”. Consequently, Napster could remain free for as long as other applications are out there competing with it for free.
Alternatively, with Napster’s proposed new subscription-based business model in the pipeline – formed in conjunction with Bertelsmann AG – Napster may remain free for no longer than about six months. People will get really tuned into [Napster Beta 8], and possibly by August it’ll become a user-pay subscription service.
Music industry analysts believe Napster’s new beta version is likely to remain free “until a subscription service for consumers becomes a viable option. This takes us back to the fact that Napster users “don’t want to spend any money,” according to music industry analysts.
And so, stay tuned to see what 2001 holds for the future of Napster and the online free music.
