LAS VEGAS -- Earlier this week NCR Corp. showcased its Freedom line of terminals at the annual NACS Show, a group of concept machines meant to tantalize retailers with possibilities for pushing the ATM envelope.
One possibility: downloading music for a fee. NCR's Freedom 4 prototype, roughly four feet high with an oval purple base that resembled a Power Rangers helmet, performed the same functions as a regular ATM, but also offered users mp3 music downloads and Digimon collectible characters. Both functions can be downloaded directly into user devices, such as mp3 players and hand-held devices.
The concept of paying for mp3 files is still foreign to most hard-core music fans spoiled by several years of Napster and other online music-downloading services. Mark Grossi, NCR chief technology officer, acknowledged that it is uncertain how music fans will react to paying for music files.
"The whole industry is struggling with it," Grossi said. "I don't think NCR can influence whether people will be willing to pay for content. What we can give them is secure access to the content."
