Verizon Wireless announced that they are launching VCAST Music, which offers customers the option to download music over the air directly to their wireless phones or straight to their Windows XP PC, where they can transfer digital music between the PC and the phone.
On January 16, 2006, V CAST Music from Verizon Wireless will start giving customers access to songs from major music labels EMI Music, Warner Music Group, Universal, and Sony/BMG, as well as indie provider The Orchard. Customers will then be able to play music on their wireless phones. With the convergence of mobile application technologies onto a single wireless handset customers will be able to have access to entertainment, music, and mobile communication. The company says that over one million songs will be available for purchase.
The service will let customers preview, browse, download and play digital music from their phones or online in the Verizon Wireless V CAST Music Store. Purchases from the phone also feature a dual-download of the song, giving customers the ability to get the same song on both their phone and their PC for one price.
V CAST Music will also allow customers to take digital music already downloaded to their Computer and sync it up with their mobile handset via a USB cable, using the Digital Rights Management (DRM) standard from Microsoft.
With the advent of V CAST Music, Microsoft and Verizon Wireless are collaborating on a service that enables music to be purchased and delivered directly to wireless handsets and Windows XP PCs, allowing customers to access and enjoy music whenever and wherever they want. This is a similiar concept to the music services that Sprint recently announced.
WIth the help of Microsoft's Windows Media technologies, this will enable next generation digital entertainment scenarios on wireless phones and enabling a connected, simple digital media lifestyle with access to content virtually anywhere in the US market.
