The world’s largest mobile phone maker, Nokia and software giant Microsoft struck a deal on Monday to make it easier for consumers to buy digital music on-line and play it back on their handsets.
In a comprehensive agreement, which involves a separate deal with digital media company Loudeye, Nokia agreed to put Microsoft’s music player software into its handsets.
In return, Microsoft, will introduce open standards for digital music compression and piracy protection in its Media Players for personal computers.
“Users can synchronize their music collection with their mobile device,” Nokia said in a statement.
“This agreement makes it easier for consumers to download music they want to listen to, without having to worry about whether or not the file format is supported,” said Nokia Multimedia unit head Anssi Vanjoki in a statement on Monday.
The deal brings together two long-time rivals, with Nokia previously using either in-house or RealNetworksmusic and video software.
The Finnish firm sold 10 million phones in 2004 with an integrated music player, and a spokesman told Reuters Nokia would launch a phone in 2005 that would support Windows Audio.
The move comes as the mobile technology that supports the faster downloading of music, 3G, takes off. Nokia launched a 3G phone on Monday along with two other new models. It forecast 70 million 3G subscribers by end-2005 versus 16 million in 2004.
Third-generation networks allow for high data transfer rates for applications like video calls and e-mail. The roll-out of the technology has been delayed for years, as operators spent billions of euros on licenses and network gear and handset makers were slow in churning out phones.
Nokia shares were largely unfazed by the news, off 0.2 percent at 12.33 euros by 1530 GMT on a slightly higher Dow Jones Stoxx technology index. Loudeye shares jumped 8.5 percent to $1.92, while Microsoft shares were 0.3 percent firmer at $26.04.
Read the complete story @ Yahoo News
Related Posts
- Nokia starts tests of Wi-Fi Internet mobile calls
- Nokia, Apple Developing Open-Source Browser For Mobile Phones
- Nokia Taps Symantec for Smart-Phone Security
- iNokia? Nokia to Open Euro ‘Nokia Music Store’
- Sony BMG to Offer Music on Nokia Phones
Loading ...
