Sony Ericsson introduces new PlayNow plus

In order to compete with Nokia’s “Comes With Music” music service, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB has declared to start its own song download service. The music service named “PlayNow plus,” will be launched in Sweden on the networks of Swedish mobile phone operator, Telenor ASA (OSL:TEL), in 2008. Next year, the service will be launched around the world. The “PlayNow plus” service will be available with the special edition of its new W902 Walkman phone. Nokia is going to launch its “Comes With Music” on October 2, 2008 in the U.K. Information Week reports:

The service, PlayNow Pus, will be powered by Omnifone and will offer all-you-can-eat music from the four largest recording labels and independent labels for a monthly fee. The music will come with digital rights management, but executives said users will be able to keep 100 DRM-free songs for each six months of their contract.

For allowing the music service to operate on the network, the operator will get a share of the monthly revenue. This puts Sony Ericsson’s music service in a serious competition with that of Nokia because Nokia offers music phones through subscription. It does not sell tracks and albums. Under “PlayNowplus” system, mobile phone users will not have to worry about paying high data charges for downloading music.

“PlayNow plus” will offer customers to choose from a collection of five million DRM music tracks from four major international music companies: EMI, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music. In addition, there will be thousands of independent local music labels.

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arstechnica.com

Information Week