O2 brings Napster to UK
14 March 2008
O2 brings Napster to UK
Telefonica-owned mobile operator O2 has extended its relationship with digital music service Napster, bringing the full track downloads platform to the UK.
On Friday, O2 UK said it would provide access to over 5 million songs and dual delivery of tracks to both the customer's mobile phone and PC, via its O2 Active portal.
Napster on O2 will offer single tracks for 99p or 5 tracks for £4, however prices are likely to creep up after a promotional period. Once a song is purchased a copy will be automatically sent to the email address of the customer's choosing.
O2 already has deals with Napster in Ireland and Germany.
Mobile music passed the tipping point in 2007, with music rental services and full track downloads finally on route to oust ringtones as the mobile content king.
The total value of the global mobile music market is expected to rise to more than $17.5bn by 2012, according to figures released by Juniper Research last month.
The research firm believes that current prices for ringtones are unsustainable and that the market for such services may already have peaked in a number of developed markets.
Indeed, global ringtone revenues are now expected to gradually decline, to be replaced by full track downloads. Ringtones, which accounted for 62 per cent of the mobile music market in 2007, are forecast to account for just 38 per cent by 2012.
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