Why Don’t Kids Buy More Downloads? Because The Can’t.
Why don’t teens buy more downloads? One reason is that they can’t. Julien McArdle writing on PCWorld.ca pointed out this obvious but often overlooked fact: download 
purchases require a credit card. Pre-paid gift cards provide an answer for some. But they can be hard to fine, cumbersome to use and seldom come in the exact denomination needed. Perhaps download kiosks in struggling record stores that allow exact cash purchases are an answer.
Interoperability between services and devices remains the greatest reason that teens and the rest of us have been slow to warm to pay downloads. And the lack of variable pricing which leads to over-pricing doesn’t do much to win the battle against the urge to grab a free track via P2P or from a friend even if it’s "illegal".
The billing issue is why I think there’s so much potential in over-the-air downloads…if someone can figure out a service that people really love.
I’d love to bill things to my cell phone bill, as one can do in South Korea, for example.
I agree with Glenn. Payment within your cell phone, regularl phone or other existing accounts would help make downloads more popular.
eh hmm…
if a kid doesn’t have “credit cards” sure as heck won’t own a micro payment over the cellphone.
Ya think Mommy and daddy will shove 20-30$ into that cellphone each weeks so jonny can buy music over the air?
This on top of Apple hating the wireless company. If there one thing greedier and more monopolitic than Microsoft and RIAA combined. It would be telcos.