WARREN, N.J.-Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. announced two new services that incorporate audio and messaging.
“Txt Tones” will allow users to link musical tones to text messages instead of rings. The three- to five-second sound clips can be used as an alert that a text message has been received, and can be assigned to individuals listed in the phone’s address book.
“We know our audience looks for features to personalize their mobile-phone experience, and these texting enhancements allow us to deliver on that,” said Dan Schulman, chief executive officer of Virgin Mobile USA.
The tones will be available initially only on the new $100 red-and-white Cyclops phone from Kyocera Corp., but eventually should be available on other Virgin Mobile USA phones, the company said. The Cyclops became available Nov. 2.
According to the mobile virtual network operator, the company is the first to launch an exclusive text tone deal with a major record label, leveraging an agreement between Virgin Mobile USA and Warner Music Group. Text tones can be downloaded for $1.50 apiece.
The WMG catalog will only be available to Virgin Mobile USA customers between Nov. 2 and Nov. 14.
Separately, Virgin Mobile USA announced its new Virgin Mobile Audio Messaging, or VAM. The service allows a user to set up a contact list to see who is available to be messaged, then records a message and sends it. Sessions can be saved on the handset and played back later. VAM comes pre-loaded on the Cyclops phone, and Virgin Mobile USA is offering 100 free audio messages per month to customers who opt in to the service before June.
