iMesh Inc. Subsidiary MusicLab Announces Beta Launch of BearShare Authorized Peer-to-Peer Service; Offering Includes ToGo Portable Music Subscription Service and Social Networking Features
BearShare 6.0 will include the introduction of a ToGo portable music subscription service, allowing users continued access to free tracks along with premium content offered at rates competitive with current subscription and single track download services. Additionally, BearShare will feature enhanced social networking capability. Users can create, share and browse profiles on the BearShare network while searching for new music and much more.
“In our continuing effort to grow the authorized P2P marketplace, we gave full consideration to the rights of copyright holders while introducing features that greatly enhance the consumer experience”
In the coming weeks, the same features will become available to current iMesh users, furthering the company's continued commitment to provide users with a dynamic P2P music experience anytime, anywhere.
Both the BearShare ToGo and iMesh ToGo services will support all MP3 and Plays for Sure portable devices.
"In our continuing effort to grow the authorized P2P marketplace, we gave full consideration to the rights of copyright holders while introducing features that greatly enhance the consumer experience," said Robert Summer, Executive Chairman, iMesh.
The new BearShare 6.0 offers the largest selection of music and music videos with more than 15 million tracks available for sharing by iMesh and BearShare users. This includes a primary offering of more than 2.5 million premium licensed songs from major and independent labels, as well as individual postings.
BearShare gives consumers access to great breadth and depth of musical content, enhanced discovery functions, music sharing features and a vast social networking community. Within the community, users are able to browse and share profiles, pictures and music libraries. Additionally, users are able to invite and add friends to their personal BearShare web page, as well as post comments and send messages and instant messages.
The service offers consumers both a subscription plan and a la carte options for premium content, with the ability to download and burn music and videos. Available in the U.S. and Canada, the service is free for 30 days and will transition to a subscription plan thereafter.
Key service features include:
-- BearShare Library offers management tools and highlights all
the tracks the user has downloaded in one easily accessible
area. Users can make playlists, manage their music collection,
browse by artist or album, as well as share their music
library.
-- Search BearShare allows users to access accurate search
results for desired content by tapping into the network's
diverse community of users. Content includes video and a broad
range of tracks available for download from major labels and
independents.
-- Discover extends the breadth of music and community by
providing detailed information for an extensive range of
genres and artists. This function facilitates new music
discovery, offers recommendations and top picks, as well as in
depth artist information and editorial playlists.
Additionally, it allows users to connect to other users in the
community with the same musical tastes and preferences.
-- BearShare People enables users to express their musical tastes
and personality to other users, and build relationships as
they discover and share music. In this social networking
community, users create, share and browse profiles, pictures,
and music libraries of both iMesh and BearShare users. Users
also have the ability to invite and add friends to their
personal BearShare web page, as well as post comments and send
instant messages.
-- Instant Messaging allows users to search and send messages to
one another while in the BearShare network. Users can add to
their "friends list," as well as browse their shared files for
favorite artists and songs. Additional instant messaging
features include:
-- Listen Together allows users to find what their friends
are listening to and join them for a collaborative
listening experience.
-- Send a Song enables users to send their favorite songs to
friends within or outside of the BearShare network.
Friends that are not BearShare users will be prompted to
install BearShare to listen to songs.
-- Purchased Content List & Synchronization provides users with a
list of all purchased BearShare tracks. If purchased files
become lost or deleted, users can easily download content
again.
-- Ringtones are seamlessly integrated into the service and
offer users easy access to the latest polyphonic ringtones
from top artists for their mobile phones. Ringtones are
offered to BearShare users in 55 countries at locally
competitive prices.
-- BearShare ToGo portable music subscription service supports
all MP3 and Plays for Sure portable devices. The portable
subscription allows users to download both free and premium
content at rates competitive with current subscription and
single track download offerings.
BearShare is a broadband-enabled service that supports Windows Media Player 10 and is compatible with any of the Plays for Sure devices.
About iMesh
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in New York, iMesh is one of the original peer-to-peer (P2P) services and the first to transition to a commercial model that guarantees payment to rightsholders. iMesh offers consumers a dynamic P2P music experience with a broad range of tracks available for download from major labels and independents, and music without claim of artist rights shared by its users. iMesh users are able to access authorized content through a la carte downloads or a monthly subscription plan. Promotional content is available at no cost to iMesh users.
