Wal Mart

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said it is starting to sell downloaded music without copyright-protection software at a price lower than what has been offered by Apple Inc.'s iTunes Store.

Music is available online from record labels including Universal Music Group and EMI Group Plc for 94 cents a track and $9.22 an album, Wal-Mart said. Apple said in May that it would sell songs without digital-rights-management software for $1.29 each and continue offering copy-protected versions for 99 cents.

While Apple's digital-rights-management software helps stop illegal copying, songs can be played only on Apple's iPod. Wal-Mart said its digital tracks are in the standard MP3 format and can be played on Apple's iPod or iPhone and Microsoft Corp.'s Zune.

www.walmart.com