Yahoo, Linksys Play a Wireless Tune

Consumers wanting to move digital music from PCs to stereo sound systems in the home wirelessly may be interested in a new product from Cisco-Linksys and Yahoo.

The two companies have developed a plug-in that allows the Linksys Wireless-G Music Bridge to complement Yahoo's Music Engine application, the companies said this week.

The plug-in is integrated into both the hardware and software components.

The Linksys wireless device, which retails for $99.99, and Yahoo's free music management software, enable users to move digital music from their computers to other stereo devices in the homes over the airwaves, without the need to connect each device individually to a cable.

Although the Music Bridge connects to the home stereo system via a standard cable, it communicates with the PC via 802.11 wireless technology.

With a touch of a button on the Yahoo interface, users can send music to the Music Bridge, which then transmits it to the sound systems.

Additional Features

In addition to its distribution function, the Yahoo Music Engine allows users to store, share, and play music as well as create play lists, listen to preprogrammed radio, and burn CDs.

The Linksys-Yahoo offering reflects a trend in the home entertainment market to use computers as hubs for distributing music, movies, pictures, documents, and recorded messages to devices scattered around the home.

Yahoo is offering a $20 rebate on the Music Bridge if consumers sign up for a one-year subscription to its digital music download service.