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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."

 
Previous Comments

Universal Baby

12/05, 01:20pm reply

Wow, unlimited access to a small fraction of available music.

JulesLt

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2005

0

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

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Joined: Jan 2006

0

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

0

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

0

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