A new music startup, ReDigi, has opened in beta, offering the first digital marketplace to buy and sell used digital music.

Short for "Recycled Digital Media," the company says it is fully legal and allows users to purchase digital music files from owners who already purchased them in the past.

The company says it has done "extensive research and have spent many hours with well respected law firms in Boston, NYC and LA" and believes the "marketplace will provide and protect the rights of consumers as they were provided for under US copyright act and the first sale doctrine."

ReDigi says it believes that just because a file has been digitized does not mean users should lose the right to re-sell their goods as if it were a physical object.

The new marketplace will as a forum for re-selling the digital tracks, first by verifying that the track was properly acquired and then "managing items selected for sale within the sellers music libraries to prevent multiple copies (protecting the seller from copyright infringement)." Finally, the company "facilitates an even greater level of copyright protection than the previous CD market."

ReDigi also donates a portion of all their revenue to the artist and their label, possibly opening a new revenue stream for the labels.

You can request an invite here: http://www.redigi.com/

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HTC has confirmed that a number of their smartphones will finally receive the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update during the Q2, which starts in April and ends in June.

Says the company:

We are excited to announce that the Desire HD, Desire Z, Desire and Incredible S will receive the Gingerbread update in Q2.

The Desire Z is otherwise known as the T-Mobile G2.

HTC's Desire is the oldest phone of the bunch while the Incredible S was just announced earlier this month at the MWC.

(Pic via WWW)

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HTC has announced their first Android 'world phone,' the Merge.

The slider CDMA phone will go on sale in the U.S. during the "spring," and will likely be available on Sprint and Verizon.

Featuring a 3.8-inch multi-touch display, HTC did not say what the resolution of the Merge will be.

For the QWWERTY slide-out, it is unclear whether the phone will feature a four or five row keyboard.

As standard for other HTC smartphones, the Merge will run on Android 2.2 Froyo, include a 5MP camera with autofocus and flash, GPS, Wi-Fi, 720p video and Microsoft Exchange. There doesn't look to be a front-side camera.

Says HTC (via PCM):

HTC prides itself on creating unique solutions that meet the needs of different customers, and with features like a full keyboard and global 3G roaming, the HTC Merge smartphone is the perfect example of this commitment. Combining the functionality of Android with the HTC Sense experience, the HTC Merge is the perfect device for those customers who are looking for a reliable mobile experience with the features and functionality of a smartphone, whether it's at home or travelling around the world.

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Google is actively looking to begin an unlimited streaming subscription service, one that will rival Netflix and Amazon, and may launch it first in the UK.

The search giant has been in talks with the major studios for months but may begin in Europe first where there is much less competition.

Netflix does not currently offer services in Europe but Amazon, following their purchase of LoveFilm last month, has a strong foothold.

For now, Google has put aside $100 million for content deals with the studios.

The NYPost says the plan is being lead by executive Robert Kyncl, who left Netflix last September.

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