Although the Apple iPod wasn’t the first MP3 player to ever hit the market, it certainly has been the most successful.  As a result, the iTunes legal download network has experienced a significant windfall, and now it seems a host of imitation online music stores want a piece of the pie.  Although Microsoft’s Zune handheld, which hits stores November 14, is garnering much attention, retail giant Best Buy has recently announced plans to partner with Sansa and its Rhapsody player when launching the Best Buy Digital Music Store.

In the past, the big blue-and-yellow electronics depot attached itself to Napster, the once mighty (and controversial) file-sharing network that was forced to go legal a few years back.  Although Napster’s name recognition kept it in Best Buy’s good graces for a while, ultimately the partnership was unable to take even a small bite out of iTunes, which subsequently led the retail electronics chain to an affair with Sansa.

In case you’re unfamiliar, Sansa is a division of SanDisk, a longtime manufacturer of digital media devices.  The company recently made headlines with the announcement that it will include 32 hours of preloaded music on its upcoming e200 music player.  Although the idea of “suggested” tunes has sparked some controversy, Microsoft will be similarly providing preloaded multimedia on its soon-to-be-released Zune.

The cost of the service is nothing we haven’t heard before.  Like Microsoft’s pitched service for the Zune, Best Buy will be offering tunes for $.99 each or an unlimited download number for $14.99 a month, via subscription. 

Also involved in the launching of Best Buy’s Digital Music Store is Real, the company known for its RealVideo and RealAudio players.  RealNetworks will take the opportunity to place its name all over the upcoming Sansa Rhapsody player (and more than likely Best Buy’s online store).

It’s pretty clear that online music stores are going to emerge as the next way to distribute harmony to the masses.  Consumers can expect that a number of electronics companies – be they retail stores or the manufacturers of players – will be constantly announcing and changing formats for the distribution of song. 

The real winner will be determined by music database size, sound quality, and the general accessibility of each network.  For now, iTunes is clearly the hot shot everyone is gunning for, and the “friendly” competition between these electronics giants should only benefit you, the consumer.