Napster introduces pre-pay cards for Christmas

Online music stalwart Napster has started to flirt with the world of the offline shops.

The download service, which first came to the UK legally in May, is now hoping to cash in on Christmas spending by offering pre-paid song vouchers.

While it's not exactly a new concept - iTunes et al sell download gift vouchers via their websites - Napster is the first online music shop to offer physical cards, which will be on sale in Dixons shops from today.

As well as milking Granny's Christmas present budget, the cards will also mean that anyone under 16 can access the service. Given that for most download services, users have to pay by credit card for their music, those under 16 are often excluded from using the service without having to beg to use their parent's plastic.

The cards will be available in denominations of £14.85 for 15 tracks, £56.95 for 60 tracks and £25.95 for a three-month subscription.

Napster has sold over one million songs in the UK since its launch.