Adding Music to your Cell World

Friday, December 22, 2006

Following the steps of Sprint and Verizon companies, which launched a music download service a while ago, the new rhythmic offer comes from Cingular.

This is the first mobile music solution for GSM carriers, taking advantage of Cingular's high-speed 3G data network. However, you need to purchase a Cingular Music Bundle that comes with a USB cable, a stereo ear bud headset, and software CD.

If you have a cell phone plan from Cingular, be aware that not all handsets support Cingular Music, and those with this capability, will not work without the bundle, which cost $39.99.

However, this new service is not a music store from which you can download your favorite tunes, but a portal service from which you can shop for music from third party provider affiliates and not directly from Cingular.

Cingular Music is also the first mobile-music subscription service for GSM carriers, but the songs are not downloaded directly to your cell phone, but to your computer for later transfer to the handset via the USB cable included in the bundle.

Once in your phone, music is streamed via MobiRadio, or after accessing XM Satellite Radio, both with good quality but some occasional buffering issues. However, the radio access is not free and you will have to pay $8.99 per month if you want to access 25 radio channels provided by Cingular Music.