Nokia takes on Apple via music, sync service
updated 12:55 pm EST, Wed December 5, 2007
Nokia takes on Apple
Top Nokia executives have detailed two initiatives designed to mold the cellphone maker into an integrated end to end customer service organization, much like Apple. The first move comes as the introduction of Nokia's "Comes with Music" service that offers customers who purchase select Nokia devices 12 months of free unlimited access to the Nokia music catalog. Nokia customers outside the U.S. will have access to all of Universal Music's tracks during the 12-month trial period, downloading as many tracks as desired.
Those customers can keep all downloaded tracks following the trial period, even if they choose not to pay a subscription fee that would prolong their access to Comes with Music.
"Clearly Nokia expects that users will find free music for a year a compelling alternative to iTunes on the Phone," said Mike Grant, head of broadband and media at Analysis.
Nokia also announced further details of the expansion of its Ovi service via the internet and PCs. Ovi currently provides users with access to music, games, social networking, content sharing, and mapping services through an on device WAP portal. Going forward, Ovi.com will provide users with easy access to all their content and the Ovi storefront through a personalized 'dashboard' or Web based portal. That portal will also provide easy integration with on device data such as synchronized contact lists, similar to Apple's .Mac service.
"These moves are a clear statement that Nokia intends to compete head to head with Apple and others seeking to be consumer's default personal information and entertainment destination," said Grant. "As users increasingly build lives around their mobiles, taking pictures, listening to music, and maintaining and interacting with networks of friends and work colleagues, equality of access to content and data across mobile phones, PCs or another internet terminal is becoming increasingly important. Previously, only those who bought into Apple's .mac vision (some would say religion) could indulge in such luxury. Very shortly users will have a choice and that choice will include Nokia Ovi."











Universal Baby
12/05, 01:20pm reply
Wow, unlimited access to a small fraction of available music.
JulesLt
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2005
vision?
12/05, 02:38pm reply
there is a fundamental difference between what the mobile phne companies are doing and what apple is doing.
apple is bringing desktop computing to the handheld market having been a computer developer and manufacturer for 25 years.
nokia is trying to enter the handheld computer market having been a telephony company for 30 years.
ironic. apple was criticized and poo-poo'ed entering the mobile space because they weren't in telephony. in truth, this was their greatest asset. apple turned the tables so that their strengths became the very weapons that threaten nokia and their ilk.
what apple lacks is in the network. this will come.
as an aside, universal still blows.
Rezzz
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2006
iPhone killer
12/05, 04:20pm reply
This is an iPhone killer for sure! Just like all the iPod killers...
jvputten
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
not interested !!
12/06, 10:52am reply
...[again] until Apple gets knocked from the top of the pile - I really don't care_
This is not news !!
UberFu
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Joined: Oct 2002