Non-stop music for BlackBerries
2007-10-24 14:09
Hong Kong - BlackBerries will come
with a cheap, unlimited music service from next month for the
first time, marking the latest foray by a handheld device maker
into a burgeoning music arena.
Rob Lewis, CEO of British mobile music provider Omnifone,
told Reuters on Tuesday his firm had inked a deal with Research
in Motion to supply the BlackBerry with unlimited tracks from
their MusicStation service, sounding the latest challenge to
Apple's iTunes for the newly launched iPhone.
Lewis said in an interview that Omnifone, which has sealed
a wide-ranging, exclusive pact with Vodafone, which also
markets mobile devices, would kick off the service in England
in November before expanding it worldwide.
"The iPhone is a very attractive device...but it's very
limited in terms of music capability," Lewis argued.
"I have to download music at home over iTunes using my own
computer. I cannot download music when I'm out and about," the
executive said after unveiling a deal to provide music
downloads
for a Hutchison Whampoa <0013.HK> Hong Kong unit.
A spokesperson for Research in Motion did not comment.
Exclusive deal
Mobile handset makers and network operators have invested
heavily in music in past years to boost revenue.
Omnifone's MusicStation now partners some of the biggest
names in the music business, from EMI and Warner Music <WMG.N>
to Sony BMG and Universal Music, and claims to be able to supply
some 10 million songs across 30 countries.
Vodafone had signed an exclusive deal with Omnifone that will give customers an unlimited number of tracks from a catalogue of over 1 million to their mobile phones for a weekly fee of £1.99.
MusicStation allows consumers to download music while they
are on the move and it will be available on new Vodafone UK
handsets as well as existing 2.5G and 3G mobiles, meaning most
customers would not need to upgrade their phones.
Others are jumping on the bandwagon.
Nokia <NOK1V.HE>, the world's largest cell phone maker,
unveiled an online music store last month while Apple's latest
"must-have" gadget, the iPhone, is due in Britain by the end of
the year.
Nokia will roll out its music store later this year
with songs selling for €1 each.