July 14, 2005

Cingular Wireless appears to be preparing a new phone from LG Electronics that features an MP3 player, according to documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission.

The move is notable as music phones and music services have become a hot topic in the wireless industry.

A Cingular spokesman declined to comment on the FCC filing, which details LG's clamshell-style CE500. The phone apparently features an MP3 player, digital camera and support for EDGE networks, as well as several dedicated music buttons. The documents include numerous references to Cingular.

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"There's a lot of things that can be done" in the realm of wireless music, said Cingular's Ritch Blasi, but he declined to discuss Cingular's plans for the future. Blasi pointed to Cingular's exclusive ringtone program as an example of the carrier's interest in the area.

The LG phone outlined in the FCC's documents brings up several issues. First, it is an indication that Cingular plans to sell phones that can play digital music. Indeed, the carrier has been rumored to be in discussions with Motorola Inc. to sell the handset maker's upcoming iTunes-capable phone.

However, the documents do not offer insight into Cingular's music plans. The user's manual included in the filing has only a brief mention of the phone's MP3 player and does not indicate whether users will be able to download songs over Cingular's network or through desktop computers.

In recent media reports, Denny Strigl, Verizon's chief executive, indicated the carrier would offer song downloads over its network in the near future.

The intersection of wireless and music has created several issues beyond the ringtone market. Carriers must decide whether they will support established music services like Apple Corp.'s iTunes or whether they will offer their own.

The LG phone is not the first in the United States to feature an MP3 player. Nokia Corp. released its 3300 music phone in 2003, which could store up to two hours of audio content.

Source: RCR News