Prague 24 March 2004 - T-Mobile International and Sony Music have recently announced the first global partnership between an operator and a music label for the distribution of a broad array of mobile music content featuring top Sony Music artists and hit titles. The deal marks a major expansion of Sony Music's mobile initiatives, and will dramatically enhance T-Mobile's mobile music content offerings through a portfolio of assets from top Sony Music artists.
Though the Sony Music partnership, T-Mobile customers will be able to enjoy a wide range of Real Tones, the next generation of ringtones using original song clips, from top Sony Music artists such as Beyoncé, Lemar, Michael Jackson and Big Brovaz, as well as a comprehensive selection of polyphonic tones and wallpaper images.
Mobile music content from Sony Music artists will initially be available in the US, the UK and the Netherlands. According to T-Mobile spokesman Jiří Hájek, the service is scheduled to be launched in the Czech Republic over the coming months. Real Tones will be available to the users of Motorola V300, Nokia 6600 and 6230, N-Gage and Sony Ericsson P900. While the price is GBP 4 per Real Tone in the UK and EUR 1.89 in the Netherlands, the amount charged in the Czech Republic will be lower.
A particular focus of the partnership will be the development of customized mobile assets designed for distribution across the T-Mobile Network in conjunction with major new Sony Music artist releases. Czech customers will thus obtain access to a wide range of monophonic and polyphonic ringtones, Real Tones, Caller Tunes and MMS pictures of famous artists.
Nikesh Arora, Chief Marketing Officer, T-Mobile International: â?œT-Mobile are the first to market globally with the top artists' music for its customers. It will give our customers access to ringtones and downloads from some of the world's biggest music stars.
"With this global launch, Sony Music and T-Mobile have joined forces to create a powerful and compelling new mobile music offering for T-Mobile customers", remarked Thomas Gewecke, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Sony Music Digital Services. "T-Mobile's global network will bring our artists' music to fans around the world 24/7 and, through our Real Tones and other content, enable them to customize their handsets with the next generation of mobile sound."
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Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (SMEI) is the number two global music company that produces, manufactures, distributes and markets recorded music and entertainment in a wide range of formats, including video, CD, DVD, MD, SACD and via the Internet.
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Contacts for journalists:
Jiří Hájek Martina Kemrová
Vice President Corporate Communication Head of External Communication
T-Mobile Czech Republic a.s. T-Mobile Czech Republic a.s.
E-mail: ji.hajek@t-mobile.cz E-mail: martina.kemrova@t-mobile.cz
Tel.: 603 620 130 Tel.: 603 620 150
T-Mobile Czech Republic, a member of the international telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom, has almost 6.2 million customers, the number-one operator in the Czech market. T-Mobile is an integrated operator: in addition to telecommunications services, it offers comprehensive ICT solutions not only for companies, but also for other organizations and individuals. It provides outstanding services in the high-speed network, which was proved repeatedly by benchmark testing performed by umlaut (former P3) with Best-in-Test seal.
T-Mobile Czech Republic places emphasis on taking a responsible approach to the environment and society. It adheres to fair business practices, helps beneficial applications and services to see the light of day, supports non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals, and lends a helping hand whenever crisis situations arise. The company’s employees serve as volunteers in many places across the entire Czech Republic.
More information about the company is available at www.t-mobile.cz, www.t-press.cz (the portal for journalists) and www.t-mobile.cz/pomahame (information on the company’s CSR activities).
Contact details of the press unit: press@t-press.cz.