From MP3tunes founder Michael Robertson's blog: "MP3tunes is announcing free, unlimited storage music lockers for everyone. Oboe -- our music locker technology -- has been out for more than a year. We've refined the process and are ready to invite the world to come create an Oboe music locker...

"Users sign up with a valid email address and then load their Oboe Locker with their music using the free Oboe Sync software for Linux, Macintosh or Microsoft Windows. Once loaded, users stream their music from any browser or from a growing list of mobile devices -- and can also sync to another computer. Oboe Sync will even add cover art for all your albums at the end of the sync process...

"The Oboe Free offer is a free music locker with unlimited storage and unlimited bandwidth for streaming or synching. This is not a trick where you can upload your music but then can't download it without paying.  No credit card is required. There are some limitations, but most users won't bump into them... Our system allows us to deploy new servers every day. As we expand capacity we grant more Oboe Free lockers with unlimited storage. It's similar to how Google allocates gmail accounts as they add servers...

"Oboe Free lockers are advertising supported meaning there will be graphical and audio advertisements embedded in the experience. So Oboe Free users should expect advertisements interspersed into their music experience...

"It's true that storage and bandwidth can be expensive today but my belief is that it won't be nearly as expensive in 2-5 years. When you're building a business you have to build for where the world will be, not necessarily for where it is today. What may be a big infrastructural investment today will parlay into a valuable business in a few years. By then we will house millions of music lockers where people will play their music on all net connected devices (computers, phones, PDAs, music appliances, TVs, etc.)."

Read Robertson's entire posting online here.

...	... Competing for listening with potential users' own music collections is certainly nothing new (see: LPs, tapes, CDs, iPods, etc.). But now it seems there's a streaming alternative that will potentially be competing for ad dollars as well! -- PM ...

"Study is based solely on 'recall'..."

Are you aware that the Media Audit study is based solely on "recall" and not hard, documented fact? It's actually someone's "perception" of what sites they visit and how often, not any traceable data.

That makes me a bit leery of the results, personally.

Just my 2 cents worth!

"Citywide WiFi for the 4th largest city..."

FYI...the city of Houston just closed a deal with Earthnet earlier this week for citywide WiFi for the 4th largest city...check out a Houston Chronicle columnist on the issue [here].

We're excited...more and more of this is nothing but great news for the Internet radio world!

"Any info on EMF issues [with WiFi]?.."

Have you guys come across any info on the EMF [electromagnetic field radiation] issues with expansion of WiFi into major cities? I know the Europeans have concern and are even calling it 'Electro-Smog' to point out its insidious nature.