Sony BMG connects with Nokia
Music giant to supply content via cell phones
Universal Music was the first label to agree a pact last year, with Nokia hoping to ship handsets that will allow access to the record company's massive library of music before the end of this year.
Nokia is launching the Comes With Music phones in an effort to retain its position as the market leading handset maker. The company has about a 40% share of the global handset market.
The service will allow cell phone owners 12 months free access to the music of Universal and Sony BMG, with EMI also understood to be close to inking a deal with Nokia.
Comes With Music will allow users to keep the music they have downloaded when the 12-month contract expires, but Nokia will be hoping that customers will upgrade their handsets each year to keep their Comes With Music access rolling.
It is understood that the record companies will receive a slice of the handset retail price for providing content for the service, but no financial details have been announced.
