14 DAY TRIAL // Nokia, the largest mobile phone maker in the world, is reported to plan on launching its Comes With Music unlimited music service in Australia and Singapore this quarter, while also extending it to Europe and the United States. According to Tero Ojanpera, the roll-out is based on the great traction the service has seen in the U.K.
“The next two countries which we are going to roll out in the next 10 weeks are going to be in Asia, in Australia and Singapore,” he told the conference. “We'll be launching there in the first quarter of 2009, in February and March.”
Ojanpera also stated that the company managed to secure "a breakthrough on a pan-European publishing deal," as the Finnish maker needs to have rights agreements with both the publishing and the recorded music side of the business. “In 2009 we will also be looking at the United States and Latin America,” he said. “That's the plan.”
As many of you already know, the Nokia “Comes With Music” service delivers unlimited music from four major music labels and a wide range of independents. Also, the service allows for the music to be kept after the contract expires. Users can download songs onto their phones or on a computer for free, yet the cost of the phone includes the price for the music as well.
Carphone Warehouse, which is the retailer of Nokia's service in Britain, has recently dropped the price on one of the company's phones. Ojanpera refused to talk on the issue, but stated that the service was expected to see more traction as soon as it was available on more devices.
According to him, Nokia also considered offering content along with the music, like videos and news from music magazines, which would come in exchange for advertising. “2009 will be a very big investment from our part,” Ojanpera added.