BEDFORD, MA. (Top40 Charts/ Groove Mobile) - Groove Mobile, the world's leading mobile music service provider, announced today that it will trial the first direct to consumer off-portal data service with Vodafone UK, giving mobile users access to Sony BMG's catalog of music. With this service, users can easily access full track Over-the-Air (OTA) downloads from their favorite artists via SMS short codes without the fear of incurring additional high data charges.
"Rich media services have to an extent been held back by complicated pricing in the past, something that Vodafone is addressing," said Ray De Silva, Strategic Business Development Manager for Vodafone UK. "Vodafone is undertaking a three month trial with Groove Mobile aiming to stimulate 'off portal' downloads by simplifying the payment process. Additional details on plans for further roll out will be provided once we have received the results of the trial."
An industry first, the Vodafone trial represents an important step forward in both the marketing and consumer adoption of mobile music. Vodafone will work in conjunction with Groove Mobile and Sony BMG UK to lower data charges so that mobile consumers can take advantage of full-track OTA downloads of the latest music with an innovative text-trigger service without the fear of 'bill shock'.
"Cost incurred by labels to distribute music on a digital platform remains the single biggest barrier to off-portal music sales and one of the largest inhibitors to growth in the off-portal sector in general," Adam Sexton, Chief Marketing Officer of Groove Mobile. "With this service, Groove Mobile will provide labels with the power to sell their artist's music directly to fans. Music consumers in the UK will now be able to get immediate access to the hottest tracks simply by sending a SMS."
Groove Mobile is uniquely positioned to leverage its expertise and relationships in the music industry to help carriers navigate the mobile music space. With worldwide agreements with leading independent artists, labels and digital distributors, Groove Mobile is well positioned to help evolve the global mobile music market by developing the mobile phone into the music player of choice. Sony BMG UK content will be featured at launch, with additional labels to follow.
"We are committed to evolving the growing mobile music market with innovative services that help get our music into the hands of more consumers," said Alex Vlassopulos, Digital Business Development Manager, Sony BMG UK. "This service is a perfect extension of our integrated marketing efforts, allowing mobile users to access music tracks simply and securely from our artists WAP stores with the push of a button. Participating artists include Usher, Westlife, Shayne Ward, Faithless, Kasabian and Chris Brown."
Groove Mobile is the leading U.K. mobile music platform powering the U.K.'s top-rated 3MusicStore and also launched the first mobile music services in the US, Sprint's Music Store. With its easy to use text-trigger service that makes it easy for mobile users to access music, Groove Mobile continues to drive the digital music business forward.
