Sony’s Walkman—you know, that device that made a name for itself by essentially initiating the music-on-the-go movement a couple of decades before Apple—is changing with the times again. Remember when it was a cassette player? Of course, digital music is the format now, and Sony has announced it is broadening the music experience on the device for the consumer by phasing out its CONNECT Music Service based on the company’s ATRAC audio format.

The phase out will be replaced with a move to Windows Media Technology (hey, score one for Mr. Gates?) platform for North America and Europe products.

The timeline will vary by region, Sony says, but will not be before next March. Sony says it will give consumers the best possible guidance on how to transfer their music library to an MP3 or Windows Media-compatible format, and that all of the new Walkman devices will support those formats.

The company adds that consumers should take advantage of whatever promotional codes, account credits or gift certificates are in their CONNECT accounts before next March.

Additionally, for anyone who wants to keep up to date with CONNECT Music Store closings, Sony will post updates at http://esupport.sony.com/EN/news/article215.

Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!