NTT Docomo is launching a downloadable music service over cell-phones....
nni.nikkei.co.jp
Friday, January 5, 2001
DoCoMo To Launch Music Download Svc Via PHS Phones
TOKYO (Dow Jones)--NTT DoCoMo Inc. (9437) said Friday it will launch a new nationwide service offering music downloads via PHS (personal handyphone system) phones from Jan. 15.
DoCoMo also said that Matsushita Communication Industrial Co. (6781), Sony Corp. (6758) and Itochu Corp. (8001) will invest in Air Media Inc., the joint venture firm that will operate the new download service.
Air Media's capitalization will be increased to Y980 million from the current Y400 million through a third-party allocation of shares. Air Media's name will also be changed to "Trinotes, Inc.", DoCoMo said.
DoCoMo added that it is taking a 55% stake in the venture, while Matsushita Communication Industrial and Sony Corp. are taking a 20% stake each and Itochu Corp. is taking the remaining 5% stake.
To access the new service, PHS subscribers will need to buy a new PHS phone, called "Picwalk P711m," which is equipped with a memory card slot. After downloading songs via their PHS phones, subscribers will be able to store the songs on a memory card that has been inserted into this slot and listen to them on their phones.
DoCoMo said that PHS subscribers will need to pay a basic monthly charge of Y200, though the charge will be waived until the end of May. PHS subscribers will also have to pay a telephone charge of Y15 per minute for downloading a song.
In addition to these charges, PHS subscribers will need to pay a monthly fee for their downloaded songs. This fee will vary according to the number and kind of songs downloaded. But the maximum monthly fee will be set at Y30,000, DoCoMo said.
The service will initially offer around 500 songs provided by 15 music companies, DoCoMo said. By the summer, the service is expected to provide around 3,000 songs. |
