FAQs

1. Which carriers in the US offer over-the-air music download services?
A: Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel

2. How many songs has Sprint claimed to have downloaded since launching its service?
A: Over 8 million

3. How many downloads per month does Verizon claim to sell?
A: Over 1 million

4. What carriers has Cingular partnered with for its music download service?
A: Napster, Yahoo Music, XM Satellite Radio, and eMusic

5. Besides Cingular, Apple has partnered with which carrier to offer the Rokr phone for iTunes downloads?
A: Motorola

6. What is the name of the data plan with four free monthly music downloads offered by Sprint?
A: $25 plan

7. Besides monthly data plans, what other option do customers have to download music from Sprint’s service without additional fees?
A: Pay 3 cents per kilobyte of data

8. How much does it cost to download the first song from Sprint’s music store without a data plan?
A: $17.50

9. Which company offers an over-the-air music download service without an additional monthly data fee?
A: Verizon

10. What is the cost per song for Verizon’s music download service?
A: $1.99

11. What are the two options for listening and storing music on mobile phones?
A: Side-loading or downloading directly over a carrier’s network

12. What is the term for downloading files onto a phone from a computer?
A: Side-loading

Summary

Mobile music services are gaining popularity, with carriers offering over-the-air downloads directly to phones. Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel are the two major US carriers that have already launched such services. Cingular Wireless, the largest mobile operator by subscribers, has recently announced a partnership with several music providers to introduce its own over-the-air music download service.

These carrier-based services offer convenience to users, allowing them to download music directly to their phones. However, they typically charge a premium for this convenience compared to side-loading, which involves downloading music from a computer and transferring it to the phone.

To attract customers and encourage adoption of their over-the-air services, carriers must ensure appropriate pricing and consider eliminating additional fees or data charges. Verizon’s success in dropping its monthly data fee after launch is an example of this. By offering flexible options and competitive pricing, carriers can tap into the growing market for mobile music services.

For users interested in enjoying music on their phones, it’s advisable to explore all available options, including over-the-air downloads and side-loading, to find the most cost-effective and convenient solution that meets their needs.