GBox

Infobox Online music service
service_logo=
opened=August 2007
service_name=gBox
pricing=fixed
service_

platforms=Windows
format=MP3, AAC, WMA (protected)
catalogue=2,000,000+
preview=30 seconds
availability=United States, Canada
homepage=http://www.gbox.com (requires Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox)
support=mailto:[e-mail]
footnotes=

gBox is an online music store run by a Cupertino, California-based startup called gBox, Inc. gBox gained fame in August 2007 when Universal Music Group announced that gBox, among other stores, will sell music in MP3 format free of Digital Rights Management (DRM) from a selection of Universal's artists. The store, which started selling its Universal catalog August 21, 2007, promotes its catalog using Google's AdWords program. The unexpectedness of the news coupled with rumors of a Google-run music store led to some early reports that Google owned or invested in gBox; the two share only an advertising business relationship. [cite web | title = gBox - Not Google - has DRM-free Universal deal | author = Aughton, Simon | work = PC Pro | date = 2007-08-13 | accessdate=2007-08-13 | url=http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/122284/gbox-not-google-has-drmfree-universal-deal.html]

gBox sells songs in DRM-free MP3 format for 99 cents per track, or in a Windows Media DRM format for the same price.

According to gBox Chief Executive Tammy Artim, gBox initially worked only with Internet Explorer users on Microsoft Windows, but Firefox for Windows support was added prior to the August 21 launch. Due to incompatibility with the optional Windows Media DRM software, gBox does not work on Mac OS X.http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/10/ap4009703.html]

Widget and Social Network integration

The gBox widget allows users to gift other users, add songs to their own wishlist, and listen to sample clips of music they already have. The widget was developed together with the gBox portal, and can be added on any 3rd party site, e.g. social networks such as MySpace and Friendster, or personal blogs.

The company announced a first version of their Facebook integration [http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?api_key=97f13134a9df730309f06c6bba431da4 gBox/mp3 gifts | Facebook ] ] in October 2007. This makes it easier for users to gift friends directly, to follow up on what friends are wishing, as well as to use various features within Facebook.

Content

A total of more than 2 million albums and tracks are offered for gifting and/or sale as of April 2008 [http://gbox-music2.blogspot.com/2008/04/content-update.html Gift Music 2.0: Content update ] ] . The catalog contains music from both major labels, such as UMG and Sony, as well as large independent aggregators, such as The Orchard. Content is updated on-going, with new releases made available on all venues.

According to company managers, there is a general preference towards offering the more user friendly MP3 format. There is also a long-term strategy to support other content beyond music.

References

External links

* [http://www.gbox.com Official site]
* [http://gbox-music2.blogspot.com gBox blog]