August 16, 2004
European Download Services Go Mobile
The ability to download complete tracks directly over cell-phone networks to mobile phones is becoming a reality in Europe, according to Reuters via Moco News.
"O2 Music, the music arm of U.K.-based international telecom operator mmO2, has started offering songs for download in Germany and the United Kingdom.
The emerging trend of selling full-length songs directly to mobile phones in Europe has been triggered by better understanding and cooperation between mobile phone operators, handset manufacturers and record labels.
"This is a very important development," says Beth Appleton, new media and business development manager at independent label V2 Music in London. "Call-back tones have been successful in South Korea (news - web sites); real tones are popular in Japan and are about to take off in the United States. But the offering of full downloads and videos has been driven by European companies."
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/2004/08/004961.htm