WiMP


WiMP was a music streaming service available on mobile devices, tablets, network players and computers. WiMP, standing for "Wireless Music Player," emphasized high-quality audio. WiMP offered music and podcasts for users to listen to. It was initially created as a high-fidelity streaming service aimed at audiophiles, offering music in high-resolution formats such as FLAC and ALAC.

History

WiMP was developed by Aspiro AB and the Norwegian music store chain Platekompaniet AS. It was first launched in Norway in February 2010.
On January 30, 2015, it was announced that Aspiro AB had been acquired by Project Panther Bidco Ltd., which is indirectly owned by S. Carter Enterprises, LLC. The company was controlled by Shawn Corey Carter, better known by his stage name, Jay-Z. Aspiro AB was sold for 464 million SEK, which was about €50 million or US $56 million. However, WiMP would later merge with Tidal under the Tidal name.

Cost and availability

WiMP was funded by paid subscriptions such as music fees and subscriptions. As of 2012, WiMP was available in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Poland.

Tidal

The service was also available in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Turkey, where it was known as Tidal; and emphasized the high-fidelity lossless mode, but the other modes, "High" and "Normal," were also available. Tidal claims to have 80 million tracks.

Last.fm integration

The application was integrated with Last.fm allowing a track to be "scrobbled."

Catalog and editorial experience

WiMP gave access to a music library of some 25 million tracks. WiMP had local editors in each country it operated, to present the local and international music and in-app magazines also available online. WiMP also offered music videos, which were available in the Android client.

Mobile devices

WiMP was compatible with Android, iOS, Symbian, MeeGo, Windows Phone 7, and Windows Phone 8, as well as Squeezebox, Sonos, Simple Audio, Auralic, Teufel Audio and Bluesound.