UpSnap Mobile Content

Mobile users for the first time can enjoy personalized content on their phones without having to rely upon specialized devices, hardware, software or downloads. Finding and listening to mobile content when on the go has never been easier. Consumers can customize their own playlists and even search for content, artists, podcasts, and information services, all using text messages.
The service uses a simple text messaging interface to search for and access content, making UpSNAP's offerings available to almost all of the 210 million cellular handsets in the US. No credit card is required to purchase premium services, as customers are billed directly via their cellular phone bills. Podcasts, and creating your own playlist on demand are all free.

Groove Mobile Teams with TMN

Groove Mobile, the world'sleading mobile music commerce platform, is teaming with TMN Portugal topower its mobile music download service. Packed with the latest technologythat music fans demand, the Groove Mobile platform gives TMN Portugal's 5million customers the ability to download full music tracks direct tomobile phones. With this launch, Groove Mobile further extends their globalreach, now having access to 81 million mobile phone subscribers worldwide. "TMN Portugal is teaming up with Groove Mobile because their innovativefeatures and leading technology make them an important partner for themobile music service," stated Miguel Geraldes, TMN Business Unit Directorof Data and Content. "TMN is committed to providing customers with theworld-class products they demand, and our new mobile music service deliversthe latest tunes, hottest artists and best music features right to thephone." With full-length tracks from Warner, Sony BMG, EMI, V2, DRA, TheOrchard, and Beggars Group, TMN Portugal's customers will now have accessto a library of complete songs across multiple music genres. Customers willalso have access to a wide variety of songs by Portuguese musicians as wellas catalogs from local independent labels. And with Groove Mobile'sadvanced features, subscribers are able to access multiple charts, receiverecommendations based on purchase history, sideload music previouslypurchased online or from CD's as well as browse, preview, and downloadsmash hits from a huge number of artists. The music service also features ala carte and bundled pricing. "The TMN Portugal mobile music service extends our worldwide leadershipin bringing the best features to the growing number of music fans whoprefer listening to music on mobile phones," stated Adam Sexton, VicePresident, Marketing and Product Management, Groove Mobile. "Our constantinnovations, including music recommendations based on purchase history,have made Groove Mobile the choice of music fans across the globe." Groove Mobile also powers the award winning Sprint Music Store, thefirst full track download service to launch in the United States. Inaddition, independent wireless analysts as well as US and UK musicconsumers report favoring Groove Mobile powered music services because oftheir ease of use and innovative features.

Apple Movie Downloads

Rumors of Apple Computer Inc.'s plans to launch a movie download service gained momentum Tuesday after the company sent invitations to the media, saying "It's Showtime," next week.

The media event scheduled for Sept. 12 is set in San Francisco and coincides with the opening day of the Apple Expo in Paris.
Speculation of the iPod maker adding full-length feature films to its online iTunes Music Store have swirled for months. Already, the Cupertino, Calif.-based computer company has become a multimedia powerhouse with its song and TV show downloads. Analysts said it would only be a matter of time before Apple started distributing movies online.

Phantom Ringtones

Universal Music has acquired exclusive worldwide digital and mobile rights to the entire catalogue of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs from popular musicals including Evita, The Phantom of the Opera and Jesus Christ Superstar.
From this week, songs from the new London production of Evita will be made available online with the remainder of the Lloyd Webber catalogue available to download from 22 August.
Many of the songs will also be released as realtones for mobile phones over the next few months.
Lloyd Webber, who has sold over 30 million singles and albums since the original Jesus Christ Superstar concept album in 1970, welcomed the deal between Universal and the Really Useful group, the company he set up to manage his assets.
'I am delighted to be able to announce these significant deals between the Really Useful Group and Universal Music and thrilled that my entire catalogue can now be downloaded (I say this although the bulk of my own music collection is on vinyl!),' he said.

Jazz Ringtones

Blue Note Records, home to recordings by classic jazz artists such as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey and Chet Baker, has begun releasing select cuts from its trove of recordings for use on mobile phones. The move is part of an initiative by the label, a unit of Britain's EMI Music, called "The Best of Blue Tones," and marks the first time samples culled from the master recordings have been available for customizing mobile phone sounds.

Coke Ringtones via Vending Machines

Coca-Cola said trials of new vending machines that allow users to take digital photos and download ringtones for mobile phones could be replicated worldwide as the soft drinks company seeks to interact more directly with consumers.
The trials of the "Cokefridge," which have been under way in Germany over the past three months, come amid rising concern by governments over the way companies are using new technology to market sugary and salty food and drinks to children.

Konami Buys Los Angeles Mobile Content Company

Konami Digital Entertainment has acquired Blue Label Interactive, a Los Angeles-based developer of mobile entertainment content. Financial terms were not disclosed. Konami said it acquired Blue Label Interactive for its technology tools and programming expertise in the mobile entertainment area. The firm said that it believes that the mobile, console, and online content categories are converging and that the acquisition will allow it to remain at the forefront of the mobile entertainment area. Blue Label Interactive develops mobile software for the entertainment industry, and was founded in 1999.