> I've come across at least one Verizon phone that defaulted to being > able > to play WMA only, but there was an option to enable MP3 playback in > the firmware. > > I've also heard that some phones won't play back MP3s unless they were > loaded with the VZW Music software, which can be gotten, along with a > data cable, for ~$30. I'm guessing it does some sort of database > update, > similar to how iPods operate. Although I suppose it might just > transcode > them to WMA before loading them onto the card. > Part of the issue could be the patent royalty payments that are attached to playing back mp3 recordings.
On playback devices (or with purchased software) these royalties are supposedly paid. But if you are a company making telephones and you can get away not paying the royalty by choosing a non-royalty bearing format, or covering the royalty through forcing the person to purchase an add-on, then you might save (if manufacturing a significant quantity of the phones) quite a bit of money....plus the add-on revenues you get by having them purchase the product for something that people obviously want to do. The royalty issue had new meaning with the relatively recent Alcatel-Lucent court case: http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/news/2007/02/72785 md -- Jon "maddog" Hall Executive Director Linux International(R) email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 80 Amherst St. Voice: +1.603.672.4557 Amherst, N.H. 03031-3032 U.S.A. WWW: http://www.li.org Board Member: Uniforum Association Board Member Emeritus: USENIX Association (2000-2006) (R)Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in several countries. (R)Linux International is a registered trademark in the USA used pursuant to a license from Linux Mark Institute, authorized licensor of Linus Torvalds, owner of the Linux trademark on a worldwide basis (R)UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the USA and other countries. _______________________________________________ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/