Pressplay to offer unlimited downloads

Slowly, oh so slowly, the record industry learns the lessons of Napster, albeit the hard way. CNET News.com reports that Pressplay is to become the first of the major label online services to offer an "all you can eat" menu for its subscribers, because reaction to their offering has been lukewarm, at best, so far. So, for $179.40 ($14.95 a month equivalent) users of the Sony/Vivendi venture will be able to stream or download as much of the service's catalogue as they want. Previously, users could only aquire 50 downloads, and listen to 500 streamed tracks. As part of the deal, users will be able to burn 120 tracks to CD, and buy the option to burn more if they want, although CNET quotes "sources" who say not all tracks will be available for all the features.