iPod Rival D&M Pulls Plug on Rio

The Financial Times covers the demise of the Rio and views it as a serious "blow to Microsoft, RealNetworks, Napster and other Apple rivals that operate internet music services based on Microsoft standards." According to the article, the music services need companies such as "D&M, Creative Technology and Samsung to provide music players that operate on Microsoft standards" and more obviously counter the ever growing iPod threat.

Michael McGuire at Gartner said, "It’s certainly a loss [for the Microsoft camp. When one of the early leaders in the space exits the market it definitely has to be a concern."