Published:
02-Apr-08
Nokia has launched its Music Store in Ireland giving subscribers access to a catalogue of over 2.5m tracks. The company has plans to expand its music content further focussing on Irish artists. Individual tracks cost 1 Euro each and albums start at 10 Euros. Users have the option of listening to a 30 second preview clip prior to purchase. One free music download will be offered on the site each week. A PC streaming service is also available for a 10 Euro monthly subscription fee. Downloaded music can be synchronised between PC and mobile. To promote the launch, Nokia is giving away 24,000 free music vouchers for the Music Store. Voucher holders are also entered for a prize draw for a Nokia N95 8GB phone, bluetooth speakers and a year's unlimited music streaming from the store.
Our take...
Nokia is continuing to roll out its Music Store following launches in the UK in November 2007 and Germany in March 2008. The company intends to release the Music Store in 9 countries by mid 2008. Nokia Music Store launches have been hindered by the operators' reticence to take on the Music Store enabled devices given the direct competition with their own music services. T-Mobile was rumoured to be against the Music Store enabled Nokia devices in Germany and only two out of the five UK operators have initially accepted the handsets. It therefore does not seem surprising that the launch in Ireland is accompanied by the offer of free content in an attempt to drive service uptake. However, this will first depend on whether the Irish operators are willing to sell the Music Store enabled handsets.
Ireland,
