Nokia to Launch Music Download Service in China
Nokia today launched its 'Comes With Music', in China, looking to emerging markets to invigorate the struggling service that competes with Apple's iTunes.
The company said that it would introduce the first device and PC-based free, legal, DRM-free music download service in the world's biggest mobile market.
The service delivers a rich catalogue of local artists, unique features developed for the Chinese market, and high quality music downloads.
Comes With Music will be available to consumers across China via a broad range of devices and through an extensive nationwide retail network. At launch, consumers can get unlimited music downloads with the purchase of any one of eight devices, to include the Nokia X6 32GB and Nokia X6 16GB, Nokia 5230, Nokia 5330, Nokia 5800w, Nokia 6700s, Nokia E52 and Nokia E72i. Entry level prices will start from EUR 140, excluding local taxes and subsidies.
"This launch delivers a truly mass market music offering from China's most loved mobile brand. Our broad range of Comes With Music enabled devices and the high quality, DRM-free catalogue form the perfect legal download recipe for the world's biggest market for mobile phones," says Liz Schimel, Global Head of Music, Nokia. "Globally, we have expanded the reach of our music service to 30 markets in just 18 months. We are excited to see consumers building collections of the music they love through our service, and we are firmly on the path to delivering legal digital music to all parts of the world. It's fantastic to have so many local and global labels partner with us to deliver this service in China. The industry came together to support us in innovating the mobile music business model in this unique market."
The service will include catalogues from the major global labels Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, EMI Music, and a host of local independent labels, including Huayi Brothers Media Group and Taihe Rye.
The Comes With Music service will be known locally within China as Yue Sui Xiang
In late 2008, Nokia unveiled the service in Britain but it has lacked operator support and gained little traction in developed markets since then.
With more than 700 million subscribers, China is the world's biggest mobile market by users. However, piracy in the country has kept most major music labels and movie makers from realizing significant revenue there.
The service delivers a rich catalogue of local artists, unique features developed for the Chinese market, and high quality music downloads.
Comes With Music will be available to consumers across China via a broad range of devices and through an extensive nationwide retail network. At launch, consumers can get unlimited music downloads with the purchase of any one of eight devices, to include the Nokia X6 32GB and Nokia X6 16GB, Nokia 5230, Nokia 5330, Nokia 5800w, Nokia 6700s, Nokia E52 and Nokia E72i. Entry level prices will start from EUR 140, excluding local taxes and subsidies.
"This launch delivers a truly mass market music offering from China's most loved mobile brand. Our broad range of Comes With Music enabled devices and the high quality, DRM-free catalogue form the perfect legal download recipe for the world's biggest market for mobile phones," says Liz Schimel, Global Head of Music, Nokia. "Globally, we have expanded the reach of our music service to 30 markets in just 18 months. We are excited to see consumers building collections of the music they love through our service, and we are firmly on the path to delivering legal digital music to all parts of the world. It's fantastic to have so many local and global labels partner with us to deliver this service in China. The industry came together to support us in innovating the mobile music business model in this unique market."
The service will include catalogues from the major global labels Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, EMI Music, and a host of local independent labels, including Huayi Brothers Media Group and Taihe Rye.
The Comes With Music service will be known locally within China as Yue Sui Xiang
In late 2008, Nokia unveiled the service in Britain but it has lacked operator support and gained little traction in developed markets since then.
With more than 700 million subscribers, China is the world's biggest mobile market by users. However, piracy in the country has kept most major music labels and movie makers from realizing significant revenue there.
