MobileMonday Global

^{Mobile music for operators ears} Nokia gets Loudeye for music delivery

Particularly suitable as part of an operator’s 3G services, mobile music downloading and streaming offer excellent opportunities for operators to differentiate themselves and increase their average revenue per user (ARPU). The mobile music platform is designed to allow users to browse, search, listen, and download either to the device or the user’s PC, full length songs and RingTunes (MasterTones) using an operator branded music application on their mobile device. Customers can also use their personal computer and an operator customized PC client to access the music shop via the Internet. Additionally, users can synchronize their music collection with their mobile device. The PC client will be based on the Windows Media Player, which has built-in support for mobile music formats, including WMA, and will also support the AAC family of codecs for mobile use. “Digital music and mobility go hand in hand and operators now have a quick and easy way to offer a comprehensive music service to their customers,” said Jonas Geust, vice president, Music, Nokia. “The solution that we have developed with Loudeye allows straightforward access to music from a mobile device or PC. This tightly integrated service means that consumers can enjoy music at their convenience without having to worry about the underlying technologies. It’s the only music solution available to operators globally that fully integrates the mobile and the PC experience.” “We see music as one of the key 3G services driving operator revenues. The Nokia - Loudeye music solution offers the necessary elements to enable operators to launch a comprehensive mobile music service for their customers,” said Philip Taylor, Director, Strategy Analytics. “Not only does it support wireless music downloads but it has strong PC support through its collaboration with Microsoft, which is crucial for reliable storage and synchronization.” “Microsoft has long enjoyed a strong and fruitful partnership with Loudeye in the digital music space and we are excited to now be working with Nokia to help deliver this comprehensive mobile digital music platform,” said Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president of the Windows Digital Media Division for Microsoft. “Our collaboration with Nokia and Loudeye will help remove the islands of content and services we have today and replace them with a seamless digital music experience focused on the consumer.” The platform allows users to download songs they have purchased through their mobile device directly to their mobile phone, and to a PC, with the payment appearing on their monthly phone bill. Consumers can also browse the music store from their mobile device or PC and listen to music samples before choosing which tracks to purchase. A locker service preserves the users’ library of music, ensuring users can download the songs they own at any time. Loudeye and Nokia have built the platform on open standards, and the content delivered to mobile devices is protected using the OMA v1.0 DRM and future releases will also support the OMA v2.0 DRM.

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