Microsoft's US-based music subscription service ZunePass has just revamped so to offer users a number of permanent downloads each month. Previously, ZunePass worked like Napster and other first-generation subscription download platforms where users get access to millions of songs for a monthly subscription ($15), but the access remains only for as long as a subscription is valid. Once their subscription expires a user loses access to the music.
However, with newer subscription services offering a service more akin to eMusic's subscription model, whereby users get to keep songs they acquire via their subscription, Zune are adding some permanent download to their offer.
However, unlike the Orange permanent download subscription system in France and the recently launched here in the UK Nokia Comes With Music, which allow subscribers to download permanent copies of an unlimited number of tracks, the new look ZunePass system will combine the Napster and eMusic models, so that users have unlimited access to music while their subscription is valid, and in addition to that can download permanent copies of ten tracks a month.
I think I'm right in saying that the permanent tracks will be provided in DRM-free MP3 formats. All four majors and indie aggregators The Orchard and IODA are signed up to the new deal.
The a la carte bit of the Microsoft download service, still only available in the US, is also moving over to DRM-free MP3, and hopes to soon have about 90% of its catalogue available in that format.