Omnifone brings unlimited music downloads to PC and mobile with MusicStation® Desktop Edition
2 April 2009 – Hong Kong
- MusicStation Desktop Edition enables users to download, play and share music on PC and mobile
- MusicStation Desktop Edition is a subscription based service providing unlimited music access, available on a pay as you go basis or bundled into price plans or devices at no extra fee
- Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong is the first telecom operator to roll out the MusicStation Dual Download service on its mobile network
Omnifone, the world's leading independent provider of unlimited music services to the likes of Sony Ericsson, Vodafone, Telenor and Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong) Limited ("Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong") today announces the launch of MusicStation® Desktop Edition; an interoperable unlimited music service for PC users. Provided in partnership with mobile network operators, broadband providers and device vendors, MusicStation Desktop Edition gives consumers the freedom to download, play and share the world's music, direct to their desktop computer.
"The introduction of MusicStation Desktop Edition enables our partners to deliver interoperable unlimited music services to PC and mobile, generating significant revenues from digital music consumption*," said Rob Lewis, CEO of Omnifone. "With the music industry facing 95% piracy rates, Omnifone's subscription based music services provide a legitimate alternative to illegal P2P filesharing, delivering unlimited access to millions of tracks over multiple device platforms."
Omnifone has international licensing agreements in place for unlimited music downloads with all four major music labels and thousands of independents for MusicStation Desktop Edition providing users with unlimited access to a vast catalogue of music. MusicStation Desktop Edition provides a fully personalised user experience, featuring play-based music recommendations, connected community functions, instant search and discovery capabilities as well as ‘drag and drop' music sharing between devices and friends.
Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong first to roll out MusicStation Dual Download service
Omnifone announces that Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong is the first mobile operator to introduce the MusicStation Dual Download service on its mobile network. With unlimited access to more than 1.3 million tracks from all the major and leading independent labels 3 Hong Kong MusicStation users enjoy the offer to extend their unlimited music experience from mobile to PC for HK$15 per week (originally HK$12 MusicStation Mobile), starting 26 March 2009.
Analyst view
"The physical music market is in steep, terminal decline as consumers continue the switch to digital and online piracy increases. The current physical market stands at under half of its reported value in 2001," said Christine Binns, analyst, Screen Digest. "The consumer desire for free music is perpetuated by the ready availability of illegal music download services online. Bundling music services into price plans and devices offers a promising alternative to piracy – giving the consumer what they want, music for free, whilst ensuring that rights holders get paid."
MusicStation Desktop Edition can be provided by partners in conjunction with MusicStation Mobile Edition enabling full interoperability across mobile and desktop platform, or on a stand alone basis, delivering unlimited access to music on PC over broadband. MusicStation Desktop Edition also has the ability to synchronise with all other MusicStation-powered services and mobile devices. The launch of MusicStation Desktop Edition builds on Omnifone's MusicStation Next Generation interoperable unlimited music solution, announced in February 2009 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
*Screen Digest (March 2009) predict that global mobile full track music & video subscription revenues will be worth €947m by 2012; almost double mobile a-la-carte revenues (€586m). By 2013, subscription revenues will be worth €1015m compared to €607m for a-la-carte.