HP to offer music service at Jan. 2004 CES

plans to introduce an Internet music store and portable music player next year, as early as 1st Quarter.

The launch will most likely take place at a January trade show, an HP executive said Tuesday.

The music service will be run in conjunction with an existing service like Musicmatch.com and compete with music stores from Apple Computer Inc. and Dell Inc., HPShopping.com chief executive officer Peter Appl said in an interview.

Following the planned launch of the service at the Consumer Electronics Show, HP expects to unveil a digital music player, Appl said.

He said the company had not yet decided the exact design of the product, adding that HP wants to be sure to set its digital music player apart from competitors.

HP, which is the second largest personal computer maker, behind Dell, is one of several computers makers including Dell and Gateway that aim to sell more consumer electronics products as sales of PCs have matured.

HP also plans to introduce a large screen, LCD flat panel television at the consumer electronics show, Appl said.

“That will be a key component in the digital home,” Appl said.

Appl would not say which tradeshow in particular the new service and player will show at, but the only trade show of concern is January is the world famous CES (consumer electronics show).

Source: Reuters, Dow Jones Business News,