Nokia gets musical

Singapore - Mobile giant Nokia has launched a new digital music service which will compete with Apples iTunes and iPhone.

Nokia held an event 'Nokia Remix' on Friday to announce its "Comes with Music" offering, as well as a new product - which is considered relatively cheap compared to its competitors from its digital music range - the Nokia 5800.

"'Comes With Music' sets a precedent for consumer value and convenience that the rest of the digital entertainment industry is already copying. The freedom and simplicity of the service is unparalleled. It gives you unlimited access to the millions of tracks in the Nokia Music Store and the music is all yours to keep - because its not a revolution unless you get to keep your music," Andrew Connell, head of entertainment & communities category management at Nokia, said.

In its bid to complete with the Apple iTunes and iPhone, its new digital entertainment service will be available free with the purchase of certain phones, like the new touch-screen Nokia 5800, Nokia 5310 and N95. Singapore and Australia are the second in line to get this new service after the UK, which has started offering it early this month, with Singapore and Australia to have the service in the first quarter of 2009. Consumers get a year of unlimited access to the entire Nokia Music Store catalogue and the songs can be kept infinitely with no expiry date.

In addition to the main record labels like Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group, the EMI Group has joined as the latest major label to support Comes With Music. Locally, the service will also be supported by prominent Asian independent labels, like Ocean Butterflies Music and Rock Records.

According to a recent survey from research firm Strategy Analytics, there is strong demand for music packages - 84% of consumers said they would pay for a service like 'Comes with Music', with 34% percent willing to pay $10 or more per month.