NEW YORK: Computer maker Dell Inc. and online music vendor Napster Inc. are teaming up to offer a hardware and software package to universities and colleges interested in legal online music download service.
The package combines Dell's PowerEdge 1855 servers with Napster's SuperPeer digital music service. Colleges can use the servers to store music from Napster's library locally obviating the need for students to individually access Napster to download music, thus releasing the the bandwidth.
The service is to be launched this fall.
Napster has an existing arrangement of providing digital music to 13 universities. The deal will extend the facility to other universities and colleges and offer a discounted academic rate and special prices on bundles that include Dell's digital music players. University of Washington is the first to sign for the product.
Napster has moved quickly following the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court last week that any Internet file-trading network can be held liable when their users copy music, movies and other copyrighted works without permission. The ruling is expected to boost the prospects of Internet-based businesses like Napster, Apple iTunes and RealNetworks.
John Mullen, vice president of Dell's higher education business, says schools want a way to minimize the impact of music downloads on their networks and encourage students to shift to legal downloads.
Napster said its entire music library will be available in the cache on Dell servers at colleges and universities participating in the program. The songs can be accessed paying the prescribed price with minimal impact on the bandwidth.
Dell sees in the deal a scope to promote its consumer-technology business. The company has three digital music players that are compatible with Napster To Go, Napster's portable subscription service.
