Cricket Launches Muve Music: First Unlimited Mobile Music Service To Reach U.S.

(Updated) Cricket Communications today became the first  U.S. mobile carrier to offer consumers unlimited music as part of a wireless rate plan. Dubbed Muve Music, the new digital music service is only available as part of a $55 monthly unlimited wireless plan and offers DRM-free mp3's over the air to the phone. All four major labels have licensed content to the service.

Muve hopes to meet the needs of customers for whom the phone, not their computer, is the center of their digital life. A similar Nokia Comes With Music unlimited mobile music service failed to gain traction in Europe.  But Cricket and some major label execs hope that this bundled single price approach will prove more attractive to consumers.

“When we first began working with Cricket to model this new service, we quickly realized what a great opportunity it was to develop the first-ever US unlimited music service that comes bundled with a mobile voice, text, and web plan and is fully integrated into the phone itself,” stated David Ring, executive vice president of business development and business affairs for Universal Music Group, eLabs.

At launch, Muve Music will only be available on the Samsung Suede phone. The phone features a dedicated music button on the front of the device, that takes customers to Muve Music with one touch.

UPDATE: Cricket may offer free and unlimited music, but it only resides on a copy protected area of the SD disc and its yours only if you remain a Cricket subscriber.