MTV and Microsoft to launch itunes competitor

[Mattress]

MTV, Microsoft Team Up to Take On iTunes

At launch, Urge will have more than 2 million tracks, which can be purchased individually at 99 US cents or as full albums starting at around $9.95.

The service also will offer unlimited downloads at a monthly rate of $9.95, or $14.95 for the ability to transfer songs to any of more than 100 compatible portable music players.

Initially, Urge will also feature streaming videos, with video downloads becoming available for purchase later this year.

Urge will also be the featured music service on Microsoft's media player, which will continue to have built-in links to several other services.

Also, like established rivals RealNetworks' Rhapsody and Napster, Urge is not compatible with Apple's Macintosh computers or its market-leading iPod digital music player.

They're not really competing with itunes if it's not iPod compatible. That's just dumb.