Earlier today the Wall Street Journal wrote that Cingular was planning on announcing a partnership with Napster and Yahoo! Music to launch a cellphone music service. The announcement is set to occur tomorrow.
Now Reuters is reporting that Cingular is raising the bar (sorry) and including XM's Web-based channels as part of the offering.
Billboard further elaborates, reporting that the XM service (XM Radio Mobile) will provide 25 music channels. XM Radio Mobile on Alltel currently consists of 20 channels, no word on whether the service is being expanded on both mobile providers.
According to the WSJ, Cingular's service will allow for the transfering of music from "all you can eat" subscription services like Napster to Go, Yahoo's Music Unlimited or eMusic. Next year, Cingular will add over-the-air downloading with a virtual store menu, similar to the one customers already use to buy ringtones.
Some speculation: remember that back in April, Cingular said that they are in talks with a new satellite video provider, one who is not Dish or DirecTV. Not sure if this is related, but the timing is curious.
Some thoughts: it's step forward to the ultimate goal of "device convergence" - but not quite there yet. Hopefully it's a taste of things to come.
I am not neutral on XM. Don't like them, don't think their Management is sound, am bored by ONA though I do think their music is superior to Sirius.....BUT congrats to them on this !!!! It's big and good for satrad in general. Lord knows, XM has had a plate full of doggie turds over the last year.
Cingular deal AND ( bonus) XM4 didn't BLOW UP on the pad. Looks like XM is having a good week !
:)