Nokia eyes DRM-free after launching download store.

Mobile giants keen to kick-start the faltering over-the-air download market with a la carte and subscription services

Nokia has emphasised that it is keen to switch its freshly-launched music download store to selling DRM-free content as soon as possible, after a week that saw the thorny subject of interoperability brought to the fore.

As widely predicted, the mobile giant last week unveiled an aggressive music roll-out, incorporating four new handsets and a download store, with an emphasis on reinvigorating the stalled over-the-air download market.

Although Nokia's download store will launch selling music in DRM- protected Windows Media Audio format, the company says it is keen to move to selling copy protection-free music as soon as the industry allows.

"We're talking to the labels about DRM-free today and we're looking to bring it to the market as soon as that's available," says David Williams, director of content for Nokia music services. "In the meantime, we have to align with and respect the rights of the rights holders."

The admission comes as Apple rival Creative announced details of a new Zen player device which will play Apple's AAC format alongside MP3 and WMA, and as Sony closed its unsuccessful and widely incompatible Connect store.

However, as it stands, tracks bought from Nokia's download store will not play on iPods, or as Williams puts it, "iPods are not compatible with our service."