HP to pre-load Napster on UK PCs

Under the terms of the agreement, all HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario desktop and notebook computers sold in the UK and Germany will include access to Napster’s music subscription service, straight out of the box.  

Both companies are supporting the partnership with a variety of online and direct marketing activities.

The deal gives HP customers instant access to more than four million tracks via the Napster desktop icon, along with a free, introductory 1-month subscription to the Napster music service.

As well as unlimited full-length tracks, Napster subscribers get over 80 interactive, advert-free radio stations.

Subscription to Napster costs £9.95 a month or £14.95 a month for the portable Napster To Go service, which allows consumers to transfer an unlimited number of tracks to any compatible MP3 player or PlaysForSure-enabled mobile handset without paying per track.

Thorsten Schliesche, VP Sales & Marketing Europe, said: “By pre-loading the Napster software on the latest HP PCs we’re making the world of digital music just a click away and hopefully introducing Napster to people who share our passion for music.”

Joseph Sweeney, senior business development manager, Internet Services & Software Attach, HP EMEA, aded:  “HP is committed to offering innovative products and solutions to enable customers to fully enjoy digital entertainment. The partnership with Napster supports this strategy by giving customers simple, direct access to a huge library of songs and other digital content as soon as they start using their new PC.”