Omnifone’s MusicStation Counters iPhone With Unlimited Downlaods
More details are emerging on a story we reported yesterday regarding Omnipone’s bid to help the world’s cell companies battle the coming iPhone/iTunes combo with a service that offers unlimited
over the air song downloads to most existing cell phones. The service also promises playlist sharing
and other social networking platforms.
MusicStation users get unlimited downloads for a $3.85 monthly subscription rather than on a track-by-track basis. The service also differs from the iPhone by using existing cell data networks thus trumping Apple’s need for a broadband connection. Omnifone is launching the service with 23 mobile network operators with subscribers in 40 European and Asian countries and 690 million subscribers and will come pre-loaded on most new handsets.
The fact that MusicStation delivers music to cheap cells via existing networks assures "killer app" status. But the bigger news is that major labels including Universal are allowing the license of their music for a low monthly "all you can eat" price. Could this early test lead to the much dreamed of ISP monthly music license? (MusicStation Press Release)
Omnifone’s London offices are in the old Island Records offices. The property is owned by Universal. Dig a bit and you’ll probably find that UMG is an investor in Omnifone. I agree that on paper this looks brilliant. But do you have to pay data charges on top??
A minor clarification, if you read careful the fees are actually 3 euros/WEEK (not month). I thought it sounded to cheap to be true. 🙂
More service details and video at:
http://globallistic.blogspot.com/2007/02/mobile-music-all-you-can-eat-from.html.