Microsoft says its Soapbox is better than YouTube. Google will do refunds on videos bought from its video store. MTV, Real and Verizon take on Apple's iTunes.

Called Rhapsody America, the yet-to-launch collaboration among the three companies will combine MTV's relatively unsuccessful Urge music store, the Real-owned Rhapsody subscription download service, and Verizon's V Cast mobile media service to create a music store that reaches across the PC, digital music player, and mobile phone platforms.