Sony Ericsson teases with mystery microsite

Sony Ericsson has launched a new teaser site where it claims to be re-inventing music as we know it.

[via TechRadar]

Signs of progress on digital music service

After a shaky start, Nokia is claiming progress with its efforts to become a leading provider of digital music on mobile phones, The Financial Times reports.

Giant Nokia 5800 XpressMusic invades Antwerp

Spotted engadget, a four-foot 5800 XpressMusic set up by Nokia in Antwerp.

Your Music Player is Ringing

Nokia on music phones.

[via Nokia Conversations]

Mobile phone makers use Arab singers to push deeper into the UAE

Nancy Ajram is the latest of many popular Arab singers used by major mobile phone makers to push deeper into the UAE and other regional markets. According to Business 24-7, the trend gained momentum after the global financial crisis and concerns that it could reverse years of steady local growth.

Sony Ericsson's archrival, Samsung, has also enlisted popular singers from Lebanon and other Arab countries to expand its market share. LG, another major mobile phone producer, has introduced several new models carrying portraits of singers while Nokia, the world's largest mobile handset maker, has just marketed a phone uploaded with scores of Arab songs with the help of Rotana Music.

Sony Ericsson, the largest investor in promotional campaigns in the UAE, has backed up its Nancy phone with a real-life portrait of the singer, distributed to all shops on Defence Road, the main mobile phone shopping centre in the capital. The portrait is placed at the entrance of the shops and is done in a way that Nancy's eyes follow the onlookers wherever they move.

Can I control my iPod by blinking?

Engineers at Osaka University have developed a new system for controlling electronic devices that could enable people to navigate through the tracks on their MP3 player simply with a wink or smile. The Guardian reports.

The device - which has been nicknamed the "Mimi Switch" – consists of a small earbud that is capable of measuring movements in the wearer's temple. Different actions or facial expressions result in a variety of actions, depending on how the system is programmed.

"An iPod can start or stop music when the wearer sticks his tongue, like in the famous Einstein picture," suggested lead researcher Kazuhiro Taniguchi. "If he opens his eyes wide, the machine skips to the next tune. A wink with the right eye makes it go back."

... The research paper detailing the Mimi Switch, which was actually published last year in the Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics, has suddenly resurfaced after being picked up online – but it is far from being the only invention of its kind.

Read full article.

Nokia Comes With Music Now Comes With INgrooves

INgrooves, a leading provider of digital distribution, marketing and promotional services to the independent music community, announced today that it has joined the Nokia Comes With Music service, a revolutionary way for music lovers to discover and enjoy music.

Those who purchase a Nokia Comes With Music device will gain access to Ingrooves' extensive catalog of independent music. Consumers will be able to download tracks to both their mobile device and computer through the Nokia Music Store during the first twelve months that they own their Nokia device. Once the year is over, consumers can keep the music they've downloaded.

[via FierceMobile Content release]

Samsung Launches two Beat Phones For DJs who Can’t Afford Turbtables

Samsung’s has two new additions to their Beat lineup for the musically-inclined: the DJ M7600 and Disc M6710. IntoMobile reports.

The Beat DJ features a remixing application that lets you bust out some impromptu scratch routines, including lowpass, highpass, reverb, tempo, and lots of other changes to bring out your inner tunesmith. As spotted before the show, the DJ hosts some proper Bang and Olufsen speakers to share your sheer pimptitude with passersby.

The Disc version’s only difference seems to be subbing out GPS for a slide-out keypad, and skipping the advanced DJ software. A very cool idea, overall. Video to come!

MSN Music UK offering mobile downloads

MSN Music UK recently began offering mobile downloads, including full music tracks, Realtone ringtones, and even music videos. The download library includes up to 1 million full music tracks, 25,000 Realtone ringtones, and 10,000 music videos from major labels, including Sony Music and Warner Music.

[Mobile Burn via Moco News/Washington Post]

Your music, where you want it

Nokia has just announced a new collaboration with Philips to unleash the music on your phone when you're at home, reports Nokia Conversations.

Using open DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) standard, products from both companies have been optimised to give consumers a "simple, seamless and interactive out-of-the-box experience". In other words, Philips Streamium wireless audio products will let users stream music from their Nokia music devices or PCs.

Nokia Comes With Music Sales 'OK, But Not Earth Shattering'

... A person familiar with Nokia's Comes With Music service in the UK, as saying that initial sales had been "OK, but not earth shattering." The person said consumers are reluctant to pay extra for a mobile with the service sold through Carphone Warehouse, the mobile phone retailer, and 3, the smaller mobile operator when they could get the music for free on the internet.

[via The Washington Post/Moco News]

Sony Ericsson uses phones to meet bands

Sony Ericsson is launching a new mobile site designed to further help close the ties between its mobile phones and the Walkman brand, with users able to interact with their favourite bands. Techradar reports.

The Swedish-Japanese manufacturer is working with Q magazine to set up a series of 'intimate' (no, not that kind) of gigs at the Hard Rock Cafe, and will be making content from these events available on the new site.

Users will be able to submit questions via their mobile for their favourite bands to answer, and the best will be allowed to quiz the bands in person after the site goes live on Friday.

Sony Ericsson isn't the first technology company to get involved with gigs, as both Nokia, O2 and iTunes sponsor such events around the UK.

Musicians tap new revenue model

According to the BBC, cell phones are helping rock bands reach new fans.

... Some record labels are looking to new online models to reach new fans, enthuse old ones and boost profits.

One company that thinks it can help the industry redefine how to sell music is Tapulous, based in Palo Alto, California.

It develops applications for Apple's iPhone and its free game called Tap Tap Revengehas won over more than three million users since it launched in July.

The game, in which players tap and shake their devices to the beat of a tune, was one of the first iPhone games. It has also attracted a loyal following among musicians who have been lining up to have their music featured on it.

Read full article.

Brits prefer to listen to music on mobile phones

Mobile phones are more popular than CD players when it comes to listening to music, says the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA). PC Advisor reports.

According to the ERA in the past two years, 44 million mobile phones that feature MP3 capability have been sold, compared to just 8 million CD players in the same period. The ERA also highlighted that between September 2007 and September 2008, 32.1 million MP3 devices were sold in the UK, 75 percent of which were mobile phones.

"Never in the history of the music business have we seen a format take off like this before. There is now no doubt that MP3 is the fastest-growing music format of all time, faster than vinyl, cassette or CD," said Russel Coultart, chairman of ERA Digital.

Sony Ericsson's PlayNow Plus music service goes live

Sony Ericsson has officially launched its PlayNow Plus music service.

Currently, the unlimited music download service is only being offered through Sweden's own Telenor, but more carriers (and compatible handsets) should be added on in due time.

[via engadget:mobile]

Listening to MP3 player for an hour a day could make you deaf, experts warn

Up to one million Britons are risking permanent deafness by listening to their music players too loudly, European officials have said, reports The Daily Mail.

"They say five to 10 per cent of iPod and other MP3 users risk losing their hearing completely if they listen for more than an hour a day for at least five years.

The EU's scientific committee on emerging health risks says between 2.5 and 10million people across the continent could go deaf because of their addiction to their personal music players.

... An EU safety standard already exists restricting the noise level of personal music players to 100 decibels, but the scientists said the danger level is much lower - music pumped into the ears above 89 decibels for long periods of time.

At that level, users of personal music players are exposed to higher noise levels than currently allowed in factories."

Related:

-- Another warning about earbuds

-- Headphones linked to hearing loss?

-- iPod warning: turn it down

-- Another warning about earbuds

-- Headphones linked to hearing loss?

-- Mobiles could lead to hearing loss among college kids

-- Mobiles could lead to hearing loss among college kids

-- Siemens phones may cause hearing damage

-- Groups Wants Loud Warnings On iPods, MP3s

Shazam plugs into Vodafone music store

Music discovery specialist Shazam secures another operator music store integration, this time in Germany. Mobile Entertainment reports.

"Vodafone Germany has begun offering the 'MusicFinder with Shazam' app, which allows users to share their discoveries and purchase content from the operator's music store.

The news follows a similar agreement inked by Shazam last week with T-Mobile and Samsung.

Vodafone Germany customers will be able to download the MusicFinder application direct to their handset from the Vodafone Live! portal and get a 30 day free trial."

Sony Ericsson W350i Sex and the City Edition

Sony Ericsson is launching a "Sex and the City" ( W350i ) mobile phone.

"Bonus items include a memory stick that's preloaded with the entire "Sex and the City" movie soundtrack, a trio of wallpapers and the video song, “Labels or Love” by Fergie.

[via Ubergizmo]

Discord over the phone that comes with free music

Nokia's bold plan to offer unlimited downloads with its new mobiles is making artists nervous about their royalties, writes James Robinson for The Observer.

"It sounds too good to be true: the world's largest mobile phone company launches a service allowing its customers to download an unlimited number of tracks by almost any artist or group, completely free, for as long as they want. But Nokia's new Comes With Music contract, launched in London last week, promises just that.

It is good news for fans, but some artists are unhappy about the deal, which is the latest example of a big corporation using the power of music to sell its products. Artists fear they may not receive a large enough proportion of the proceeds. "

Full article.

UK's Mobile Network Operators To Boycott Nokia "Comes With Music" Scheme

Comes With Music has faced its first setback at a very early stage as UK's top mobile operators - Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile and Orange - have vowed not to sell Nokia's free music service over their networks, at least until Christmas. ITPortal reports.

"The FT reports that Nokia, like Apple, has run into difficulties during discussions with the network operators. This could spell some bad news since Nokia is betting heavily on CMW to fend off competition from rivals Apple and Android.

And if UK network operators do not lend support to Nokia's music platform, one can expect their US counterparts to follow suit, not only on CMW but also on Ovi, which is Nokia's "umbrella concept" for internet services."

New mobile music deals explained

At first glance, it's an eye-catching deal: as much music as you like, straight to your mobile, with no monthly subscription fee. Nokia and Sony Ericsson are about to start selling new handsets with unlimited downloads included in the purchase price and other phone makers are expected to follow suit.

Record companies are keen on the idea. They hope these new 'all you can eat' deals will stop people illegally downloading music for free. So how will these new services work? And what's the catch?

BBC's Newsbeat explains.

KTF to Release 'Seo Tai-ji Phone'

A phone named after Korean top musician Seo Tae-ji is coming out. KTF announced its plans to launch a music phone and a video phone made in collaboration with Seo next month, reports Digital Chosunilbo.

"There have been phones named after celebrities, but this is the first time a star actually participated in the making of contents such as video clips, alarm tone, fonts, and ringtones. Seo composed the ringtones and the sound that comes out when turning the phone on and off and made an alarm tone featuring his voice. Images of Seo are also on display.

The phone features unreleased clips of a music video of Seo’s new single “Bermuda Triangle.” Despite being sold as limited edition, the company expects sales of at least 30,000 units. "

Sony Ericsson Planning to Offer Unlimited Music Service

Following on the heels of its main rival Nokia, Sony Ericsson's allegedly also planning an unlimited music downloading service for its Walkman-branded cellphones.

According to The Financial Times, Sony Ericsson is in discussions with all major labels about a rival tunes subscription service.

[via Gizmodo]

Nokia's Comes with Music service launches next month -- UK first

"Nokia's "free," all-you-can-eat, music subscription service is set to world premier in the UK next month before hitting continental Europe and Asia in 2009. engadget:mobile reports.

"Nokia already has Universal Music, Sony BMG and Warner Music on board and plans to have EMI signed before launch -- in total, Nokia expects to offer some 2.1 million tracks at launch.

While touted as free, the service costs will be baked into the price of Nokia's pre-pay 5310 XpressMusic Comes With Music Edition handset."

au Design Project x Yamaha merges music with mobile in new ways

The au Design Project x Yamaha from KDDI show a series of phones that double as musical instruments. Designed by a foreign and Japanese team of young innovators, these handsets are original, creative, and (the best part) actually able to make music, writes Trends in Japan.

In My Pocket, below, is unique in that it comes with multiple accessories to create different instruments from the harmonica to the trumpet. Sounds are “hummed” into the handset (much like with Yamaha’s EZ TP Trumpet) with the rest controlled by the fingers.

Madonna’s New Album To Come Pre-Packaged On Sony Ericsson Phones

Sony Ericsson and Warner Music International are partnering to bundle Madonna’s latest album, Hard Candy, on handsets in 27 countries.

Starting this month, the bundles will come in two versions - one with five tracks from the album, another with the full release plus extra wallpapers and ringtones.

[via Moco News]

Music biz hopes device upgrades boost mobile sector

While only 6.7 percent of overall mobile customers use their phone to listen to music, rising to 27.9 percent for smart-phone users, a full 74.1 percent of iPhone owners reported using the device as an MP3 player, according to M:Metrics.

The majority of this music, however, is transferred from the computer, rather than purchased through the phone and downloaded wirelessly. That may change this summer once Apple unveils what many expect will be a new version of the iconic device, featuring access to high-speed third-generation (3G) wireless networks.

Read full article from Reuters.

Nokia signs Sony BMG for free music offering

Nokia will offer free 12-month access to music from artists of Sony BMG, the world's second-biggest label, to buyers of its particular music phones, the world's top cellphone maker said on Tuesday. Reuters reports.

"... Sony BMG, home to artists including Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen and Celine Dion, is jointly owned by Sony Corp and German media group Bertelsmann AG.

The new music offering from Nokia -- the first cellphone maker to push heavily into content -- would differ from any other package on the market as users can keep all the music they have downloaded during the 12 months."

MTV phone to launch in France

French operator SFR will target young music fans by launching an MTV-branded phone next week. [via Mobile Entertainment]

"The MTV3.3 slider includes MTV content such as videos, logos, wallpapers, original ringtones created by DJ Cut Killer and the MTV Cribs mobile game. It will also have easy access to MTV news, music channels and made-for-mobile channels.

Five free songs will be made available for download each month."

Warner signs 7digital MP3 deal in Europe

Warner Music has signed a deal with digital media site 7digital.com to provide its catalogue in the MP3 format, which can be played on nearly all music devices.

... The site is the first major European download store to offer Warner's tracks in the DRM-free MP3 format -- 7digital offers EMI's catalogue in the MP3 format and aims to sign more labels soon.

[via Reuters]

3 iPhones and music program equals one iBand

Three art students from Austria have hacked into their iPhones - a big no-no, from Apple's perspective - and loading them with music-playing software, which they have used to record songs. The videos they put on YouTube last month of what they call the first iBand have been drawing heavy traffic from technophiles and curiosity-seekers. IHT reports.

"Their debut video, posted Feb. 17 and briefly the top-featured video on the site, is fairly rudimentary, from a musical perspective at least: In what the band describes as a "jam session," one iPhone plays keyboard software, another plays a virtual guitar program and a Nintendo DS video game player plays percussion. The result is more songlike noise than melody.

But the fascination was instant: The three were immediately deluged with requests for interviews, for copies of the song and for information about the software and equipment they had used.

The original video had been viewed more than two million times by Sunday, and more than 13,000 viewers had left comments."

People Really Are Using Music Capabilities On Their Handsets

A recent study from M:Metrics shows that as the adoption of music phones has increased, so has the use of mobile music by consumers. Some highlight from the press release brought to light by SMS Text News:

-- Nearly 11% of mobile subscribers in the U.S. and Western Europe use their handset for music

-- Primary source of mobile music is still the PC, at 83% of active listeners

-- In every country other than the U.S. and Spain, more music was shared via bluetooth than loaded from the PC

-- Music phone penetration grew over 50% between Nov 2006 and Nov 2007, with the U.S. the fastest-growing at 63.6%

iAno piano application for the iPhone

iAno is an iPhone application which turns the device (if it's jailbroken) into a functioning digital piano.

See how it works on YouTube.

[via Uberphones]

LG Electronics showcased LG-KM710 called Mark Levinson Phone

LG Electronics showcased its high-end music phone LG-KM710 during Mobile World Congress 2008, called Mark Levinson Phone. FeelPhones reports.

LG and Mr. Mark Levinson announced their collaboration to develop products that deliver enhanced sound quality and a differentiated, stylish design.

More pictures here.

Mark Levinson designs and manufactures industry-benchmark high fidelity and home theater equipment.

Omnifone announces MusicStation Handset

Apple may have thrown down the first gauntlet with the iPhone but the UK's Omnifone is responding with what it claims will be the first handset with unlimited free music downloads wherever you are — no computer necessary. The Associated Press reports.

"The first MusicStation Max handset will be offered by South Korea's LG and available in Europe and Asia-Pacific in the first half of the year.

LG expects to roll out a series of cell phones with free access to Omnifone's full MusicStation catalog — currently 1.6 million songs from the four major international music labels and hundreds of independents."

Mobile phones get spotlight at Cannes music show

Phone companies are by now a familiar presence at the Midem's annual global music trade show, which is taking place in Cannes this week, with cellphone vendors sandwiched between purveyors of audio gear and managers of hip-hop bands. The IHT reports.

"That's because the mobile phone is now the world's best-selling portable music device - even if most people don't play tunes on their phone. An MP3 player is almost standard on any midrange or high-end phone coming to market these days.

Nokia, the world's largest handset maker, last year old 146 million phones that can play digital music, out of total sales of about 430 million. Sony Ericsson, with a far smaller global market share, sold about the same number of music phones, many of them carrying the Walkman brand.

But it's not just a hardware phenomenon. In Cannes, several telecommunications companies took the wraps off ideas for new music services at Midem, the international music market. In part, they are trying to emulate Asia, where in certain countries music over the mobile phone outsells Internet downloads."

Read full article.

Nokia to Share Revenue of Bundled Music With Mobile Operators

Nokia will share revenue with phone operators from a program to sell handsets with unlimited music access, Nokia's head of entertainment said to Bloomberg.

"The Finnish company unveiled in December the "Comes With Music'' program, which will allow customers to buy a phone with a year of unlimited access to millions of tracks included in the purchase price. Nokia agreed to offer tracks from Vivendi SA's Universal Music Group, and is in talks with other major labels.

... Tracks downloaded on the "Comes with Music'' program will be protected by digital-rights management software, Ojanpera said. While users will be able to share music files between their handset and computer, the files will not be transferable between computers, according to the executive."

[via MobHappy]

Ezmo Lets Phone Users Tap Music Collection

Norway-based Ezmo has announced its new mobile version of its Ezmo online music player, offering mobile phone users a way to tap into their personal music collections using their phones—and without having to cart around memory or other storage in order to load up songs.

ased on Flash Lite 3—available in a growing number of phones including the Nokia N95—Ezmo combines a music player with a social networking service: users can upload their entire music library to the Web (using tools for Mac or Windows), then listen to their music collections on their mobile phones.

They can also share their music libraries with up to ten friends, as well as access their music from anywhere they can get an Internet connection.

[via Digital Trends]

Mobile Tunes Rack Up Sales in Asia

Asian consumers aren't yet buying digital music to pack their iPods with sprawling collections of music, but they are splashing out on digital music in the form of mobile ringtones and ringback tones.

[via PC World]

Companies Offer Music Phones With Copyrighted Music

Spreadtrum, Amoi, and Kuro jointly announced a solution for music phones offering copyrighted music in China, as Amoi unveiled its new music phones, A616 and A636. China Tech News reports.

"... Kuro is a music service provider legally authorized by most record companies for millions of online copyrighted songs, providing high quality music download services in China.

Through the cooperation, Spreadtrum has embedded Kuro's services into its chipset platform, so that the mobile phones equipped with Spreadtrum's chips can enable the functions of a multimedia player and online music download services."

Apple calls the tune in mobile music

Apple's iPhone has set off an avalanche of traditional mobile phone operators into the music market, fearing that a vital source of revenue could be seized from under them. The Times Online reports.

"The market has huge potential: consumers could be spending as much as $32 billion a year buying music on their handsets by 2010, analysts believe. And the success of the iPhone - Orange sold 30,000 in five days – has served to focus Vodafone and its rivals on trying to snare a chunk of the revenue.

-- In September Vodafone, the world’s biggest mobile company, offered subscribers access to a vast catalogue of music for less than £2 a week. It dubbed the service, which lets consumers download the latest tunes regardless of their location, a “completely new movement within mobile music”.

-- Last week Nokia, the world’s biggest mobile manufacturer, went further by promising buyers of its handsets free access to millions of songs for a year. One analyst described the service, offered jointly with Universal, as a potential “game changer”.

Meanwhile, a study by Informa Telecoms & Media found that both the mobile operators and the music industry were “staking much of their future in this market”.

... Edgar Bronfman, the chairman and chief executive of Warner Music, has described the mobile platform as “by far and away the biggest opportunity for entertainment generally and music specifically”. But he also said that if phone companies did not smarten up their act and offer more competitive services, they would be forced to “watch their share of the opportunity diminish” as the likes of Apple cash in.

3 turns on Non Stop Music

British operator 3 announced the launch of Non Stop Music, a new service delivering unlimited access to genre-based music streams ranging from dance to classic rock for 49 pence (about $1) per 24-hour cycle.

Developed in conjunction with Ericsson, Non Stop Music promises eight different channels, each on a four-hour loop.

[Fierce Mobile Content via Press release]

Mobile phones are where the music's at

Mobile phones will increasingly become the favoured device on which to buy music, research suggests. [via The Inquirer]

"Tunes beamed to mobile phones currently represent around 13 per cent of global recorded music retail value. And an industry report forecasts an increase to almost 30 per cent by 2011.

By then, according to research by Dunstable-based Understanding & Solutions, mobile music will be worth some $11 billion annually.

Rule Jostles Runners Who Race to Their Own Tune

Before the up-coming New York Marathon race this Sunday, The New York Times reports on the banning of portable audio devices for runners in competitive races . [via Smart Mobs]

"USA Track & Field, the national governing body for running, this year banned the use of headphones and portable audio players like iPods at its official races. The new rule was created to ensure safety and to prevent runners from having a competitive edge.

... With technological advances leading to smaller and smaller audio players that are easier to carry and conceal during races, the rift in the sport and the debate over the issue seems to be here to stay."

Apple, Nokia Face Off in Music-Phone Clash

Nokia and Apple are vying for British consumers in their first major showdown. Nokia is introducing two new music cellphones in London in time for the arrival of Apple's iPhone in the U.K.

[via WSJ and watch mobuzz take on Apple vs iPhone]