This new comprehensive and feature-rich service allows consumers to purchase artist images, ring tones and full-length songs via WAP as well as via an easy to use integrated software application on their mobile handsets. Napster Mobile was formally debuted to mobile operators today at 3GSM in Barcelona and is the result of a global partnership forged by the companies in June of last year.
The Napster Mobile service combines elements of Napster's popular PC offering and Ericsson's personalized music service, currently utilized by more mobile operators than any other in the world. The Napster Mobile application has a look and feel similar to Napster's award-winning PC software and includes Napster programming such as featured artists, top tracks of the day and new releases.User-friendly Napster Mobile also features a powerful recommendation engine, which offers content suggestions based upon each customer's personal musical tastes.
Ericsson offers Napster Mobile as a hosted service, a business model that makes it easy, fast, and cost-efficient for operators to launch the service. The service includes mobile operator participation in all revenue streams.
The Napster Mobile service provides consumers with a simple way to search and browse Napster's enormous music catalog and allows them to preview, purchase and play songs on their mobile handsets through an integrated music player.
Napster Mobile is also the first mobile music service to offer fully-integrated dual-delivery of music, meaning when consumers use their handsets to request content, a downloadable copy is sent directly to the phone and an additional copy is simultaneously sent to their PCs, enabling them to manage all of their content in one location. Using Napster's award-winning PC software, consumers can listen to their purchased music, create play lists, rip and burn CDs and even transfer songs to other portable devices.
Napster Mobile is based on SDP Media, Ericsson's service delivery platform tailored for media solutions, and works on handsets from all major manufacturers.
Brad Duea, Napster's President says: "Napster Mobile enables wireless operators to offer their customers a superior music experience from a recognized digital music leader. We are confident that the combination of Napster's music expertise with Ericsson's mobile music solution and wireless industry proficiency will appeal to wireless carriers and customers alike."
Hans Vestberg, Executive Vice President Global Services Ericsson, says: "Operators gain access to one of the biggest digital music brands in the world through Napster Mobile. We feel confident that the service will allow mobile operators to seize opportunities for digital music on the mobile phone and PC that they might not have had access to before."
Napster is responsible for music programming, full-length track content aggregation, PC development, and backend integration to the service. Ericsson takes responsibility for aggregating handset specific content such as ring tones, images and logos, and handling operator sales, wireless application development, operatorintegration, hosting, content settlement through Ericsson Internet Payment eXchange (IPX), and operator support. Due to the customer benefits and the value of offering the impressive Napster catalog, there is great interest for Napster Mobile among operators worldwide. The dual delivery functionality will be available when the service launches in initial markets.
Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communications through its continuous technology leadership. Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the world.
