Why wma?

[TommyWillB]

Well... Okay, but they left the window open for "codec" to be acceptable too:

...Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) is at the core of the MPEG-4, 3GPP and 3GPP2 specifications and is the audio codec of choice for Internet...

[gwynarion]

Okay, so if Apple is partnering with Nokia and/or other cell phone makers to be able to play ITMS files, then wouldn't that mean that Apple actually IS starting to license ther DRM?

Can the new Moto phone play protected songs purchased from the iTMS? I assume it can since it is basically running the same iTunes software as the iPod. What I think is happening here, though, is that Apple is working with Moto to supply a way for a device to play the protected music, not for another company to sell the music. The latter is what would be required for another store to sell like the iTMS.

Since it is fairly well known that Apple doesn't make a lot (or any) money selling music, but it does selling iPods, and the iTMS helps sell iPods, it would seem like it would be a good business decision for Apple to let other companies use their DRM in selling music. Those companies could then open their online storefronts and sell songs for $.50 or $1.50 -- but they would be selling songs that were protected in an industry approved fashion and could be played on the iPod.