MP3 player make iRiver has expanded its range, launched a 1GB, 6GB and 20GB model to its H10 series (which previously offered a 5GB player). All the new players will come with the Microsoft PlaysForSure system which is required if consumers want to use Napster and Real's new 'to-go' services, where you can download any tracks from the download service's catalogue and listen to it on a portable player for as long as your subscription is valid.
The main selling point of non-Apple players, of course, is their compatibility with all download platforms, well, except iTunes of course. So, needless to say, that is what iRiver were bigging up on the launch of their new players. Microsoft's Kevin Unangst lent his support to the new players by telling reporters: "With support for Windows Media Player 10 and PlaysForSure compatibility out of the box, iRiver H10 customers can choose from the widest range of music subscription and download services available todayî.
iRiver continues to struggle in the ever competitive digital music player space of course - more so since Apple entered the economy 'flash player' market with the iPod Shuffle, and also since the arrival of upstart SanDisk which is competing with both iRiver and Creative in particular. They will be hoping the new range, and the arrival of the 'to-go' services from the subscription platforms, will help then regain some ground in the digital music market place.