USGA, IRT launch music filesharing service
Aditi Dubey
Issue date: 10/7/05 Section: News
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The University launched the Drexel Music Choice Program Oct. 6, offering students an alternative, cheap and legal way to download music.
This service is free for students living on campus and students residing off campus can pay $24 a year for the service, which provides a choice between iTunes and Napster. Faculty and staff can subscribe to Napster for $6.95 per month, a 30 percent discount over full price.
Students who choose Napster will receive a subscription activation coupon to download the client and set up an account, providing access to the entire Napster catalog for the duration of their subscriptions. To facilitate the download process and reduce network congestion, nine Dell blade servers equipped with Napster's SuperPeer cache application will be installed on campus.
Students who choose iTunes will receive song download coupons redeemable at the iTunes Music Store for 28 downloads a year. These songs can be played on computers, burned to compact disks or transferred to iPods.
This project was developed simultaneously by Undergraduate Student Government Association and Information Resources and Technology in association with Apple, Napster and Dell. USGA worked with Student Life for months to find a music program that could cater to the needs of University's student population, but none of the music providers offered a very broad range of compatible services.
Unlike universities with similar services, University students can choose their music provider. This ensures that none are alienated, as they would be with a Windows-only program that does not support iPods.
"The DMCP responds to students' interest in using technology for both recreation and education, and it ensures that students get the final decision about the provider that best meets their needs," Vice President for the Office of Information Resources and Technology and Chief Information Officer John Bielec said.
All DMCP users - whether using Windows, Mac, iPods or other portable music devices - can safely download music without any problems.
This service is free for students living on campus and students residing off campus can pay $24 a year for the service, which provides a choice between iTunes and Napster. Faculty and staff can subscribe to Napster for $6.95 per month, a 30 percent discount over full price.
Students who choose Napster will receive a subscription activation coupon to download the client and set up an account, providing access to the entire Napster catalog for the duration of their subscriptions. To facilitate the download process and reduce network congestion, nine Dell blade servers equipped with Napster's SuperPeer cache application will be installed on campus.
Students who choose iTunes will receive song download coupons redeemable at the iTunes Music Store for 28 downloads a year. These songs can be played on computers, burned to compact disks or transferred to iPods.
This project was developed simultaneously by Undergraduate Student Government Association and Information Resources and Technology in association with Apple, Napster and Dell. USGA worked with Student Life for months to find a music program that could cater to the needs of University's student population, but none of the music providers offered a very broad range of compatible services.
Unlike universities with similar services, University students can choose their music provider. This ensures that none are alienated, as they would be with a Windows-only program that does not support iPods.
"The DMCP responds to students' interest in using technology for both recreation and education, and it ensures that students get the final decision about the provider that best meets their needs," Vice President for the Office of Information Resources and Technology and Chief Information Officer John Bielec said.
All DMCP users - whether using Windows, Mac, iPods or other portable music devices - can safely download music without any problems.
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