BARCELONA, Spain-As the 3GSM World Congress conference kicks off, music-related announcements from the industry are humming right along. Here are some of the highlights:
- Motorola Inc. announced a deal to use Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Media platform in a new series of music phones. The handset manufacturer said the new devices would be sold alongside phones using Apple Computer Inc.’s iTunes platform. Motorola said it plans to launch between one and three Windows Media phones in the second half of this year.
The world’s second-largest handset manufacturer said operators that wished to open their own music stories had requested Windows Media phones because Microsoft is willing to sell technology to enable such stores, while Apple-which has its own iTunes store-is not.
- L.M. Ericsson revealed an initiative with U.S. regional operator SunCom Wireless Inc. to offer Napster Mobile, which is hosted by Ericsson, to all SunCom subscribers. SunCom is the first U.S. carrier to offer the service, which includes ring tones, graphics and full-length songs. Customers will be able to download songs to their mobile handsets, and a copy is sent to their PCs. Napster Mobile is expected to be available to SunCom subscribers during the first half of the year.
- Ericsson also landed a deal to manage the Ladezone entertainment portal for Austrian operator One. The deal includes a personalized music service, including full-track downloads, as well as entertainment downloads and ringback tones.
Ericsson already offers mobile music to Polish operator Polkomtel SA through its MegaMuza service; the companies plan to add music videos and a “huge selection” of full-length songs from major labels later this year.
- Orange France pre-launched an interactive, streaming music service called Music Cast. Music Cast services can be customized to a user’s taste, and the service progressively builds a customized music stream based on previous songs that have been played by the user. A Web interface allows a subscriber to browse, stream music and create personal radio channels that are available on both a PC and mobile handset. The service is expected to be available initially on the Nokia Corp. 6630, 6680 and N70 handsets for select Orange subscribers.
- Alcatel SA reported that it would supply interactive mobile music and video services for StarHub, Singapore’s second largest mobile operator. StarHub would be the first to deploy Alcatel’s Mobile Music Solution, which is designed to work on either GPRS/EDGE or 3G networks. Services include streaming music, personalized channels and playlists, listening to music while watching video clips and cross-purchases of related full-track songs, music video clips, ring tones, ringback tones and wallpapers.
- Cingular Wireless L.L.C. is peddling a music recognition service-MusicID-that allows customers with select handsets to use the service to identify songs and artists that they don’t know through either a messaging service or a Java application. Users dial #ID (#43) from their handsets, hold their phones up to the music source, and then receive a text message with the song and artist identification, as well as information on any available related ringtones they could purchase. The Java app is available to owners of the Nokia 6682 handset. Cingular is offering users of the messaging option a buy-two, get-one-free deal through March 31; the cost is $1 per ID, or $7 a month for unlimited IDs. The Java version also costs $7 per month for unlimited use. The service was initially available through AT&T Wireless Services Inc., which was acquired by Cingular in late 2004.<
