] To use the music recognition service, users dial a
] three-digit code, then must hold their mobile phone for
] about 15 seconds near a speaker playing the tune that
] they want to identify. Moments later, the service sends a
] text message to the users' mobile phone indicating the
] title of the song and the name of the recording artist.

Interesting. But how extensive could the database be? And is this really worth $.99?

] To use the music recognition service, users dial a
] three-digit code, then must hold their mobile phone for
] about 15 seconds near a speaker playing the tune that
] they want to identify. Moments later, the service sends a
] text message to the users' mobile phone indicating the
] title of the song and the name of the recording artist.

Interesting. But how extensive could the database be? And is this really worth $.99?

[ Very interesting. You may all know that the Neuros audio player (an mp3/etc. player with some pretty advanced features) had a similar function, which would record a snippet of audio like that, and then, later, when connected to your computer and a network, ID the audio over the web and tell you what it was.

This seems to cut to the chase, though it seems pricey... 25 cent might be more realistic. Also, I think it's gonna become less relevant as satelite radio increases in popularity... which I think will occur.

Maybe though... I'm sure if i had it, i'd use it from time to time. Of course, usually I don't know i need an ID until after the song is over and the jackass DJ fails to inform me of anything he just played. -k]

Thrynn wrote:
] Interesting. But how extensive could the database be?
] And this really worth $.99?

The linked article reports a database of "1 million popular songs." That's a significant database; as a point of reference, the Rhapsody database presently contains ~ 634,000 tracks. It's quite likely that the database of this particular service, as it now stands, includes tracks that are not licensed for electronic purchase. As an example, it can probably identify "Help!"

I agree that $0.99 is too much just for an identification service.

Here's my proposal for the business model of the service.

* You capture the audio clip and submit it to the service.

* The service performs the lookup and responds with an identification of the track.

* The service offers to sell you the track for $0.99. If you choose to purchase the track, you can listen to it on your phone immediately and at any time. You can also download it at a later time from an affiliated web site and transfer it to your desktop, laptop, iPod, or other portable player.

* If you decline to purchase the track after it has been identified, you are charged $0.10 for the lookup; such results are logged by the service and made available for later reference on the web site. Previously identified tracks can be purchased from the web site at any time for an additional $0.89.

As a partnership between AT&T and Apple, this could be successful.