Sony Ericsson Expands PlayNow Via 5M New Tracks

• Posted: Tuesday, January 29, 2008
• |
• Author: pradhana
• |
• Filed under: Sony Ericsson

At the MIDEM conference in Cannes, Sony Ericsson announced an expansion of its over-the-air download service PlayNow, adding 10 new record label catalogs representing more than five million new tracks.

Sony Ericsson unveiled deals with major labels Sony BMG, Warner Music Group and EMI along with indies like The Orchard and IODA, adding it is currently in negotiations with a number of regional labels to expand the availability of localized content.

Sony Ericsson also introduced the design and URL for PlayNow arena music store and launched PlayNow Uncut, a promotional space for new, unsigned and developing artists.

Sony Ericsson introduced PlayNow in February 2004 as the easiest way to pre-listen and then purchase polyphonic ringtones directly to your phone. The service has proved a hit with consumers and is now available in 32 countries around the world, with annual free and premium downloads through both PlayNow and Fun & Downloads having reached more than 200 million.

Since launch, the scope of the service has expanded to mirror the functionality of Sony Ericsson's phones to include mastertones (MP3 ringtones), games, full music tracks, themes and wallpapers.

In November 2007 Sony Ericsson announced its intention to further develop its PlayNow service with PlayNow arena, offering access to a greatly expanded range of content and combining the power of the PlayNow catalogue with unique applications like TrackID, which identifies songs and allows them to be downloaded directly to your phone or PC.

"We are delighted to announce deals with such high calibre record labels. This will help realise our vision for PlayNow arena as a service that will be developed in collaboration with our partners. Our commitment is to work with the industry to ensure we are building an experience-based and intuitive content delivery platform, enabling the development of an ecosystem that provides a unique experience for the consumer and a business model where everybody prospers."

With mobile games remaining a key focus, Sony Ericsson has also added 250 new games through existing deals with leading games manufactures such as EA Games, Gameloft, THQ, Glu, Digital Chocolate and I-Play. Sony Ericsson users download more games to their phones than users of any other mobile phone brand. These deals take another step in cementing its number one position in the mobile games market.[FierceMobileContent/FierceWireless]

• Permalink
• RSS 2.0
• 
• 
• 
• 
•