Off-portal, flat fee music downloads
Further to our story about the growth of mobile music downloads, and 3’s success with its flat fee, no added data charge, service we note that mBlox and New-Visions have launched what looks to consumers like a “download fee only” model following a wholesale agreement with Vodafone.
Although mBlox said Orange and other operators are due to sign up, at the moment only Vodafone customers will have access to the service, which is offering music from V2 and Ministry of Sound acts. mBlox has put together the wholesale contract with Vodafone, and the transaction engine, with New-Visions providing the content on behalf of the record labels (Direct-To-Consumer WAP hosting, content delivery and billing platform) and partnering with Cube:80 for its OMA DRM model.
mBlox claims that data charges are hindering the uptake of music downloads, and so having a clear “download-only” fee will stimulate usage.
“Rich media, especially music downloads, are the future for the mobile entertainment industry,” said Andrew Bud, executive chairman of mBlox. “A massive step forward has just happened, thanks to Vodafone. For the first time, we can offer a viable business model for rich content delivered direct to the consumer. We are confident that our continuing commitment to this innovation will accelerate its uptake by the other mobile operators.”