(2 August 2006 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: US wireless communications service provider Verizon Wireless continues its attempts to break down barriers in the world of mobile music

It recently launched mobile music phone Chocolate by LG. In conjunction with this the company has announeced that its customers have everything they need to have a V Cast music experience. This includes access to more than 1.3 million songs, a full line of music accessories that includes a 2GB microSDTM card that can hold up to 1,000 songs, the elimination of the V Cast VPak monthly charge for its V CAST Music customers and the ability to play their mp3 files with V Cast Music.

Verizon Wireless’ V Cast is an over-the-air mobile music download service. With the new Chocolate phone customers can browse, preview, download and play high-quality digital music from the V Cast music catalogue that boasts more than 1.3 million songs from thousands of artists from top labels and independent providers.

In an effort to give its customers unfettered access to the best mobile music service in the nation, Verizon Wireless has eliminated the need for customers to subscribe to the V Cast VPak for $15 per month to use V Cast Music. Now, anyone with a V CAST Music-enabled phone can pay-as-they-go to download songs on their phone for $1.99 per song plus airtime, download songs to their Windows XP® PC for as little as $0.99 and transfer their existing compatible digital music collection to their V CAST Music-enabled phone or memory card for free from their PC. Purchases from the phone include two copies of every song – one for the phone and one for the Windows XP PC. In addition, V Cast Music customers with Chocolates can listen to their existing mp3 files, a new functionality enabled by new V CAST Music software on the phone.

Verizon Wireless VP marketing and digital media John Harrobin said, “Verizon Wireless is launching the next phase of V CAST Music with the exclusive launch of Chocolate by LG that marries breakthrough industrial design and music functionality with the best of a wireless phone. With the new V Cast Music pay-as-you-go pricing structure, Verizon Wireless’ millions of customers with V Cast music-enabled phones can now call their music whenever the urge strikes, giving them easy access to mobile music.”

Verizon adds that the new Chocolate by LG phone and V CAST Music haschanged the mobile music landscape, offering music customers the ability to personalise their music – either by selecting full-track downloads, ring tones, Ringback Tones, music videos and more – and play their music for others. Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Music runs on Verizon Wireless’ broadband network.

With the launch of Chocolate and enhancements to V CAST Music, artists can reach a larger, targeted and more engaged audience than ever before with traditional media, such as television and radio. Artists including the Fugees, Shakira, Green Day, Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Sean Paul and Nelly Furtado have selected Verizon Wireless to give their fans unprecedented exclusives because they recognize that mobile music can bring their music to fans quickly and offers a unique opportunity to promote their music.

For example, in March 2006, Verizon Wireless unveiled the simultaneous world premiere of the full-length song, music video, ring tone, Ringback Tone, wallpaper and behind-the-scenes footage of the video shoot for “Hips Don’t Lie,” the song that marked the unique collaboration of global artists Shakira and Wyclef Jean. The “Hips Don’t Lie” single and other content became available for purchase exclusively on V CAST – two months prior to being sold at any Web retailer, music store or other music distribution channel. Immediately after the Verizon Wireless exclusive of “Hips Don’t Lie” was over, the single jumped to number one and continues to break records.

Harrobin adds, “V Cast Music lets artists get their music in the palms of their fans’ hands quickly – while driving traditional music sales rather than cannibalizing them – and lets their fans choose the ways they want to personalize their music experience. With the combination of artist exclusives, true mobile music players such as Chocolate, and the immediacy of V CAST Music, we are now way beyond ring tones and Ringback Tones on phones.”