I’ve used Sony products for a long time, including a Sony computer (Vaio) and the Walkman Bean. It has been a mixed blessing, because I love the multimedia tools that are packed into the PC, but I hate having to use the proprietary Sony ATRAC format for music saved to the Bean. Today, I found out that Sony has decided to join the rest of the world and move toward more open audio formats. Yea!

Here is the email I received from Sony:

August 30, 2007

Subject: Future of CONNECT Music Service

To Our Valued Sony CONNECT Music Customers:

Today Sony announced its intent to move to a Windows Media Technology platform for Walkman® products in the United States, Canada and Europe. We strongly believe that the decision to embrace a more open platform for these devices will enable us to provide you with a better overall experience. As a result of this change, we will be phasing out the CONNECT™ Music Service based on Sony’s ATRAC audio format in North America and Europe. Specific timing will vary by region depending on market demand, but will not be before March 2008.

We are fully committed to helping you through this important transition away from the CONNECT Music Service and providing you with the best possible guidance on how to successfully transfer your music library to an MP3 or Windows Media-compatible format, should you wish to do so. We recommend that you use any outstanding promotional codes, account credits or gift certificates available in your music account prior to March 2008, but even after the store closes you will continue to be able to play, manage, and transfer the music in your SonicStage library and on your existing ATRAC devices. If you obtain a new device, all of Sony’s new Walkman music and video players will support MP3 or Windows Media Audio format.

In the coming months we will keep you informed of the status of the CONNECT Music Service phase out in your region. Periodic updates will be posted on the CONNECT music store and on the Sony Electronics customer service site, http://esupport.sony.com/EN/news/article215.

Please note that the CONNECT e-book service for the Reader in the U.S. will not be affected.

Thank you for your business and for your continued support as we work to complete this transition with as little disruption to you as possible.

Sincerely,

Sony CONNECT Music Team

I’ll have to wait to see how easy Sony will make it to transfer my ATRAC format music to a new format. The move is coming a little late for me, because I soon plan to buy an Apple iPod and join the majority of the civilized world. (I’m just waiting to see whether I win one at a charity golf outing organized by my employer.)

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