TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
<i> Times Staff and Wire Reports</i>
MCI Joins Music Retailing Business: MCI Communications Corp.’s 800 number lets people sample and buy their favorite recordings by phone. Callers can choose from among 5,000 CDs and cassettes. To help them decide, consumers can listen to some 20,000 15- to 20-second music clips. Selections fall into 14 formats, including rock, country and pop. MCI said its prices will be in line with those of music stores. Purchases can be made by credit card by calling (800) MUSIC-NOW. The service will be expanded to the global computer network Internet around Nov. 20, executives said.