mmo2 to offer users chart music downloads
Following trials in May of this year, UK-based mobile phone operator mmO2, formerly owned by BT, is set to lead the way in providing customers with chart music downloads to mobile phones, according to the FT.
mmO2 has reportedly clinched a deal with five major music industry labels including Universal and EMI.
The music industry has moved quickly to downstream music to mobile devices following the phenomenal growth in illegal file sharing on the internet and the subsequent drop off in more traditional retails channels such as CD sales.
Universal, Warner, BMG, Sony and EMI, in collaboration with mmO2 will launch the service next month. Users will initially have access to about 5,000 tracks.
mmO2 is expected to charge about GBP1.50 to download a song. Downloads will take about 90 seconds on existing GPRS or 2.5G networks and will take even less time when high speed third generation networks go online in 2004.
Users will be able to transfer music date from their phone to a computer. CD burning is part of the licence agreement but the music companies have adopted encryption technology to prevent illegal file-sharing.
