Microsoft, Sony to partner on Internet music site

Microsoft Corporation and Sony Music Entertainment announced on Wednesdaythat they are collaborating on a new Internet Web site that will promote andsell innovative software, music, and video products. Sony will be providingdownloadable music from its extensive collection of recording artists, whileMicrosoft will promote its streaming multimedia products, specificallyWindows Media Technologies 4.0, which is due in final form this summer.

"Working with Sony Music Entertainment to use Windows Media for bothstreaming and downloadable music will help us deliver enhanced musicexperiences for consumers while offering new opportunities for Sony Musicand its artists," said Will Poole, the senior director for marketing andbusiness development in the Streaming Media Division at Microsoft.

Customers who download music and video from the new site will pay the sameprice as they would for the titles in stores, about $3.50 per song. Asingle song should download in about five minutes