SonyEricsson ramps download service

MOBILE phone giant SonyEricsson has signed distribution deals with ten major record labels, boosting the number of tracks available through its mobile download service to more than five million.

The company announced at the MIDEM conference in Cannes its strategic plans for the PlayNow arena operated by the company.

The partnerships with 10 of the largest international and regional record labels included Sony BMG, Warner Music Group, EMI, The Orchard, IODA, The PocketGroup, Hungama, X5 Music, Bonnier Amigo and VidZone.

Sony Ericsson is currently negotiating further deals with a host of regional labels to further broaden the variety of music available and bring more localised content direct to the consumer.

The PlayNow service was launched in February 2004 as the easiest way to pre-listen and then purchase polyphonic ringtones directly to your phone. Since launch, the scope of the service has expanded to include MP3 ringtones, games, full music tracks, themes and wallpapers.

The service has proved a hit with consumers and is now available in 32 countries around the world, with annual free and premium having reached more than 200 million.

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Yahoo unveils new mobile interface

YAHOO! founder Jerry Yang used a keynote address at the giant Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas to describe a corporate vision that puts mobile technology at the heart of Yahoo’s plans.

Mr Yang unveiled Yahoo! Go 3.0, an early beta of the company’s flagship, all-in-one mobile platform. The Go 3.0 interface promises open access to vast array mobile “Widgets” from all over the web.

To reinvigorate the company in its on-going battle with Google, Mr Yang said the company planned to focus on being the preferred “starting point for anything and everything users need online.”

That meant pouring resources into opening “the Yahoo experience” to any device, anywhere and any time.

“To be the best starting point, it's clear that we need to open the Yahoo! experience to any device or user. Mobile is a perfect example since more consumers are soon expected to come and go from the Net via their phones rather than desktops,” Mr Yang said.

“We're committed to creating the best and richest mobile experience for all consumers - making it extremely personalized to their individual style and needs while opening up the Yahoo! mobile platform to allow anyone to participate.”

Yahoo! Connected Life executive vice-president Marco Boerries called Yahoo Go 3.0 a game-changing mobile development.

“This new open environment provides consumers with a highly-compelling user experience and robust, personalised starting point to the mobile internet,” Mr Boerries said.

“We are providing users with increased control over their experiences as well as increased choice in getting the content and services they want while on the go.”

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Microsoft buys French mobile music firm

MICROSOFT has furthered its music-related ambitions, announcing a suite of initiatives around its Zune platform, including the acquisition of a mobile specialist and the creation of a music-related social networking service.

The company said it had entered an agreement with the French firm Musiwave, an OpenWave subsidiary and leading provider of mobile music and entertainment service to carriers and media companies.

The acquisition brings Musiwave’s relations with music labels, device makers and mobile carriers together with Microsoft’s so-called ‘Connected Entertainment technologies’ – like Windows Mobile, Zune, MSN and Windows Live.

Should the acquisition be approved, Musiwave will continue to operate from its current Paris headquarters.

“Microsoft and Musiwave share the same philosophy in working with hardware and mobile operator partners to deliver great experiences for mobile device users,” said Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business senior vice-president Pieter Knook.

“Bringing Musiwave on board would provide an opportunity for Microsoft to explore new areas in the mobile space previously untapped, and to showcase the power of software plus services,” Mr Knook said.

“This contemplated acquisition reflects Microsoft’s recognition of the software and technology expertise in Europe.”

Microsoft also unveiled a beta version of its Zune Social service, a social networking site based on music. The company said the service was designed to “connect people through music” by helping them to share their music tastes, knowledge and experience.

Also launched was a swag of new Zune portable media players.

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Google, Yahoo get seriously mobile

IF there was any question about the mobile web being the next battleground for search giants, both Google and Yahoo answered it yesterday in separate announcements targeting mobile search.

On the same say Yahoo kicked off a recruitment drive to entice mobile content publishers to use its oneSearch system, Google opened its mobile search service to the public, inviting them to “take it for a spin.”

Yahoo yesterday launched it Mobile Publisher Services, a suite of tools designed to let publishers increase the “discovery, distribution and monetisation” of their content on mobile phones.

The new services include Yahoo Mobile Ad Network, Mobile Content Engine, Mobile Media Directory and Mobile Site Submit.

“By bringing together the global audiences of Yahoo!'s popular mobile services with those of participating publishers, Yahoo! will create a combined pool of valuable inventory,” the company said.

The company said the Mobile Publisher Services went live across 19 countries yesterday, but not in Australia. It is expected the service will be launched in Australia through a separate initiative involving the Yahoo7 joint venture partners.

Google meanwhile, has opened its mobile search functions to the public.

“The next time you visit Google.com on your phone, you'll see a link that will take you to a mobile search experience that's more tailored to your needs,” Google product manager Yael Shacham was quoted as saying in US reports.

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