4 Alternatives To Virgin Media's Unlimited Music Offer

The UK-based startup has already released a desktop version of the service in Hong Kong in partnership with Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong) Limited, which operates 3 Network in the UK. It offers more than 1.3 million tracks from "all the major and leading independent labels" for a mere £5 per month. Consumers will be able to share between devices and friends.

(4) Napster

Ex-bad boy, file sharing ex-con Napster offers Napster to Go which offers a significant advantage over others. You will have access to over 8 million full length tracks from any PC. Other unique features include the ability to browse over 45 years of the official charts, going back to 1960.

Napster has also packed "Hundreds of expertly programmed ad-free radio stations to choose from" and has added a pretty nifty social networking layer by allowing customers to "Chat in the forums, listen to members' playlists and share tracks with friends".

The problem? Napster tracks are wrapped in DRM. You can only transfer music to compatible players. Unlimited downloads is limited to 3 PCs only although you can play full length tracks online from any PC.

Forget about burning the tracks to your CD, you will have to buy them instead. Worse of all? If you stop using Napster, you will lose the ability to play back the tracks you have downloaded. A bitter pill to swallow, especially at £180 per year.