Kazaa, once extremely popular for peer-to-peer file sharing, sprung into the mainstream after Napster was shut down by lawsuits in 2001. The original Kazaa, however, included malware, which caused a lot of its users to leave for Limewire, Bear Share or Kazaa Lite, which was a hacked version of Kazaa. Today, Kazaa runs a pay-subscription file downloading service, much like the new Napster and Rhapsody.

Start an Account

To start an an account, go to www.Kazaa.com. Once on the site, you will be asked for personal information including your name and email address, then asked to create a password. Once this step is complete, you will be asked for credit card payment information. As of January 2010 Kazaa offers a seven-day trial period, but charges $19.98 per month after the seven days has expired.

Download the Software

You can download the software once credit card has been charged. Click on your downloaded Kazaa icon to install and follow the prompts.

Enjoy the Music

Once you have downloaded Kazaa's proprietary software, you will have access to over one million legally licensed songs and several thousand ring tones. The songs are legally provided through a distribution company which has deals with several major record labels. However, the files will not work on portable MP3 players. Once you stop your subscription, Kazaa's website claims the downloads will be unusable.

Other Options

If you are looking for something more along the lines of the old Kazaa, a subscription-free, peer-to-peer networking service, there are still many options available. Be warned that these programs, as well as the the downloads obtained from them, can be rife with malware, trojans and viruses. Technically, downloading copyrighted content for free, without permission from its owners, is still illegal. In terms of other legal subscription-based services, both Napster and Rhapsody work on compatible portable MP3 players, offer more songs and have a monthly fee of around $15.

Source:

Kazaa's Website

Kazaa's Relaunch

More Information:

Napster

Rhapsody