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Ezpeer plans tieups with ISPs, instant messaging services

Ezpeer, a leading online music provider, yesterday announced plans to form strategic alliances with broadband and instant messaging providers.

The firm plans to cooperate with two major Internet service providers (ISPs) -- state-run Chunghwa Telecom Co's (中華電信) Hinet and So-net Taiwan, a joint venture between Japan's Sony and KG Telecommunications Co (和信電訊) -- in the second half of the year to ensure stable bandwidth for its customers.

Value-added services will also be launched on its Web site, Ezpeer said.

In addition, it will soon partner with MSN and PC Home Online's (網路家庭) Skype to allow users to share their music on the move.

"We want to create a win-win situation for five parties, which means record labels, music creators, ISPs, consumers and online music providers can enjoy closer interaction to expand the music and file-sharing industries," said Alin Wu (吳怡霖), president of Darling Digital Technology (達霖數位), which operates Ezpeer.

Originally a legally questionable peer-to-peer operator, Ezpeer announced last June that it had reached an agreement with major record labels to distribute authorized music.

Since it began charging users in October, Ezpeer has signed up 200,000 members. Wu predicted that Ezpeer membership would surge to 350,000 by the end of the year.

The reconciliation between Ezpeer and copyright holders came after the Shilin District Court ruled that Ezpeer was not guilty of infringing on intellectual property rights.
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