Music lovers set for free downloads to mobile phones

MUSIC lovers could soon get unlimited downloads of music on to their mobile phones after manufacturer Nokia struck a deal with major record label Universal.

Computer firm Apple is reportedly in talks with music companies for a similar deal for its iPhone device, which went on sale in Ireland eight days ago.

Nokia’s deal means purchasers of the phone giant’s “Comes with Music” brand of mobiles will be able to download unlimited tracks from the Universal group.

Universal, one of the world’s biggest record labels, is home to acts including U2, The Who, Abba, Amy Winehouse, the Boomtown Rats and Mika.

Purchasers of the new Nokia handsets will pay a one-off high price for the handset with €52 of the cost going to Universal in exchange for unlimited downloads.

Nokia is looking to get the device on the market in autumn in time for the Christmas rush after last year securing a deal with Universal.

Apple last week launched its iPhone mobile phone onto the Irish market amid criticism of the high cost of the device, which retails at €399 for a version with eight gigabytes of memory and at €499 for one with 16GB.

The devices can download music from Apple’s iTunes system on a pay-per-song basis but in future, users could get unlimited access to the iTunes catalogue in exchange for paying an even-higher price for the iPhone or agreeing to a monthly music subscription.

While Nokia has offered €52 per handset to Universal, Apple’s deal is being held up because the iPhone makers only want to pay record companies €13, according to London’s Financial Times.

President of Cork-based Cubic Telecom, Pat Phelan, told the Irish Examiner that mobile phone firms were looking at making the devices more than just telephones.

“The makers want to be in a position where the phones are everything to everybody and they’re trying to get all your texts, music and data (on to the one device),” said Mr Phelan.

Cubic Telecom sells mobile phone SIM cards to cut the cost of roaming calls made abroad.

Firms like Nokia are looking at the new generation of mobile phones with a heavy emphasis on downloading music, which the industry sees as a new way of making money.

Mobile phones already allow users to text, watch television clips, browse the internet and make mini films — and phone calls.