April 19, 2005

Verizon Wireless has beefed up its ringback tone service offering with a content agreement with Universal Music Group.

Universal Music has a catalog of 500 ringback tones, according to Verizon, which cover an array of music categories, including rap, hip-hop, soundtracks, pop/rock, country and metal/alternatives.

Verizon initially launched the Ringback Tone service in Sacramento and Southern California in November 2004. At the time of the launch, Warner Music Group and Sony BMG Music Entertainment were the only content providers for the service.

The Ringback Tone service enables customers to personalize the sounds callers hear when they are waiting for a call to be answered. Ringback tones can be customized based on the caller ID, group list or time of day, Verizon Wireless says.

Ringback tones can be had for $1.99 each, plus a monthly fee of 99 cents. The service offers subscribers unlimited use for a 1-year period.

Verizon has said it expects to expand the offering over its nationwide network by mid-2005.

Separately, Verizon Wireless launched the Passport KPC650 EV-DO PC Card from Kyocera Wireless for use on its BroadbandAccess high-speed wireless network.

Verizon is offering the card for $99.99, after a $100 mail-in-rebate and a signed 2-year customer agreement. The carrier's BroadbandAccess service runs $79.99 a month for unlimited use.

Source: RCR News