Sony to disconnect Connect

INGLEWOOD, Calif., Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Sony Corporation of America said it has pulled the plug on its Connect digital music store and its proprietary format after three less-than-stellar years.

The news of Connect's demise came as Sony unveiled a new line of Walkman digital music players, Variety reported Friday. Instead of working within the proprietary format available only from connect, the Walkmans are compatible with Microsoft's Window Media, used for tracks from every major label in all music stores except iTunes.

Since its launch in 2004, Connect failed to win fans against the dominant iTunes or smaller competitors such as eMusic, Rhapsody and Napster.

Sony officials told Variety Connect was expected to phase out music downloads in the United States and Europe by March. The Web site would still offer e-book downloads for Sony Reader.

Sony Corporation of America, based in Inglewood, Calif., is the U.S. subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation. It is the umbrella company for Sony companies operating in the United States.