Nokia has revealed the new ‘Comes With Music’ service and touch screen 5800 XpressMusic handset, this launch represents a strong push forward for the mobile company’s music business.
The launch event held in Sydney yesterday highlighted the innovative new 5800 XpressMusic handset, which is Nokia’s first addition to the touch screen market. But the focus of the launch was definitely on the new and innovative ‘Comes With Music’ service that will roll out in combination with the handset on 20 March 2009.
Australia will be one of the first countries in the world to experience a ‘Comes With Music’ enabled Nokia 5800 XpressMusic handset and Emile Baak, general manager, Nokia Australia and New Zealand, was very excited about the announcement.
“We believe that Comes With Music offers great value and will revolutionise the way music lovers can explore, discover and enjoy music. By combining Comes With Music with the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic we are providing great music and a great offer on a great device,” he said.
With many companies slowing down in regards to new products and developments, Nokia is not holding back and is trying to stand out as the clear provider of mobile devices and music services in Australia and the world.
Baak commented that even in this troubling economic time there is still room for innovative services in the market and consumers are still willing to experiment with new and emerging technology.
“We have found Australian consumers in particular are very keen to try new technology, and we are embracing that,” said Baak.
The key feature that Nokia revealed about the new service is the fact that consumers only have to pay a one off fee and are given access to unlimited music downloads for either a 12 or 18 month contract.
This innovate feature is being heralded by Nokia staff and music industry professionals alike as a possible reinvigoration for the entire music industry.
The reason for this is that consumers are able to experiment with their music selections and don’t have to pay for each individual download.
Consumers are given the flexibility of listening to unlimited music tracks and albums and only have to pay the initial handset costs.
Industry professionals like Gavin Perry, head of digital and physical sales for Sony Music Australia; Richard Mallett, director of recorded music services APRA/AMCOS; Mariana Annas, general manager from MIPI and Angus McDonald, chief songwriter and producer of Sneaky Sound System, were also on hand at the launch to express their opinions on the service and they were very enthusiastic about the prospects that ‘Comes With Music’ has for the music industry.
The one aspect in particular that the ‘Comes With Music’ service hopes to achieve is a reduction in piracy, due to the fact it gives consumers a legal way to download as many songs as they want from over four million songs in Nokia’s music library. This therefore eradicates the need for users to look at illegal options.
The Nokia 5800 ExpressMusic handset and 12 months access to ‘Comes With Music’ will RRP for $979 and a 18 month access period will RRP for $1109. There is no word as of yet in terms of caps or plans from relevant service providers.