January 6, 2006

Verizon Wireless has unveiled its new music service, Vcast Music, which will offer consumers the ability to download full-length digital songs and transfer them between their handset and a Windows XP personal computer.

The service is a collaboration between Verizon Wireless and Microsoft Corp.; Verizon already uses Microsoft's Windows Media to power its existing Vcast service.

Music purchases from a PC will cost $1 and can be moved to the phone via a USB cable. Purchases from a handset will cost $2, but include two copies of the song so that it can be played on both the phone and the PC.

Customers can buy entire albums using their computers, and Verizon promised that 1 million songs would be available by spring. Music will come from artists associated with Warner Music Group, EMI Music, Universal, Sony BMG and The Orchard, an independent music provider.

The service should offer half-a-million songs when it becomes available to consumers on Jan. 16. Vcast Music-enabled phones include the LG VX8100 and the Samsung a950.

Verizon joins Sprint Nextel Corp. in offering full-track music downloads.

Source: RCR