MusicStation

For the Japanese television program, see Music Station.
MusicStation
Opened 14 June 2007 (2007-06-14)
Platforms Mobile, web, PC, Blu-ray players, PS3 games console, PSP portable games console, home cinema systems, Walkman digital audio players, S1 and S2 tablets, in-home, in-car
Format Tailored to device and network: includes eAAC+, AAC+, AAC, WMA, MP3, Dolby Pulse
Catalogue International Licensing Agreements with Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and EMI
Availability US
Canada
UK
Ireland
Australia
New Zealand
France
Germany
Italy
Spain
Austria
Belgium
Netherlands
Luxembourg
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
Finland
Switzerland
Croatia
Hungary
Singapore
Hong Kong
Taiwan
South Africa
Brazil
Mexico
Features Unlimited music services
Website www.omnifone.com

MusicStation is a music service platform developed by Omnifone. The cloud based platform works across a number of different digital device platforms and is tailored specifically for various partners[1] including rara.com,[2] RIM,[3] Sony,[4] Sony Ericsson,[5] HP,[6] BSkyB,[7] Vodafone,[8] Telenor,[9] Hutchison Telecom[10] and Vodacom.[11]

Services

In February 2009 Omnifone introduced MusicStation Next Generation,[12] a white label unlimited music audio and video download and streaming solution for ISPs and consumer electronics device vendors. The cloud based solution offers interoperable music on a wide range of connected devices, including home entertainment systems, gaming consoles, and car audio systems.

MusicStation Max[13] is a white label pre-licensed music service development programme for mobile device vendors. Omnifone partners with device vendors to develop MusicStation Max powered devices pre-licensed for unlimited music downloads.[14] The service enables users to download, play and share unlimited amounts of music directly on their device.

The service enables users and keep a specific amount their favourite music at the end of their contract. MusicStation Max is interoperable with MusicStation Desktop Edition[15] with both services provided by partners across multiple territories.[16]

MusicStation Max allows users at the end of the subscription to migrate their music to their next MusicStation Max device and continue access to unlimited music downloads or to keep playing their favourite tracks. The first handset vendor signed up for MusicStation Max is Sony Ericsson for PlayNow plus.[17] Omnifone has reported that it is in talks with a number of vendors for MusicStation Max.

Sony Ericsson's PlayNow services uses MusicStation Max.[14] The first Walkman handsets with PlayNow plus were launched on 24 November 2008 by Telenor in Sweden. Sony Ericsson has rolled out the service in 2009 with Swisscom in Switzerland, Singtel in Singapore and Orange in Austria with further launches planned with mobile carriers internationally.

MusicStation Desktop Edition[15] enables consumers to download, play and share music, direct to their desktop computer. The service is provided in partnership with personal computer vendors, mobile carrier networks, and broadband providers. The service offers music recommendations, connected community services and features, and an automatic back-up of private and public playlists to the cloud, plus online search and discovery capabilities. The service is able to synchronise with all other MusicStation-powered services and mobile devices via the cloud.

In April 2009 Hutchison Telecom became the first[16] Omnifone partner to introduce MusicStation Desktop Edition to users in Hong Kong on its 3 network.

Omnifone’s MusicStation was the first subscription based unlimited music download service available on mobiles in the UK launching with Vodafone in November 2007.[18]

In June 2008, Omnifone announced that MusicStation had become the largest subscription based unlimited music download service in the UK within seven months of launching on Vodafone.[19]

Omnifone's MusicStation platform powers rara.com a new access based streaming music service 'for the mass market' launched across 16 countries including the US and Europe on 13 December 2011and rara.com.[2] and across New Zealand[20] the following day.[21]

Availability of licensed content from major labels

Country Universal Sony EMI Warner
Australia Yes Yes Yes Yes
Austria Yes YesYes Yes
Belgium Yes Yes Yes Yes
Brazil Yes Yes Yes Yes
Canada Yes Yes Yes Yes
Croatia Yes Yes Yes Yes
Denmark Yes Yes Yes Yes
Finland Yes Yes Yes Yes
France Yes Yes Yes Yes
Germany Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hong Kong Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hungary Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ireland Yes Yes Yes Yes
Italy Yes Yes Yes Yes
Luxembourg Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mexico Yes Yes Yes Yes
Netherlands Yes Yes Yes Yes
New Zealand Yes Yes Yes Yes
Norway Yes Yes Yes Yes
Singapore Yes Yes Yes Yes
South Africa Yes Yes Yes Yes
Spain Yes Yes Yes Yes
Sweden Yes Yes Yes Yes
Switzerland Yes Yes Yes Yes
Taiwan Yes Yes Yes Yes
United Kingdom Yes Yes Yes Yes
United States Yes Yes Yes Yes

History

Main article: Omnifone
• 14 January 2003: British Entrepreneurs Rob Lewis, Phil Sant and Mark Knight form Omnifone
• 12 February 2007: Omnifone announces MusicStation[22]
• 14 June 2007: MusicStation goes live with its first rollout in Sweden with Telenor[23]
• 22 October 2007: MusicStation launches in Hong Kong with 3[24]
• 1 November 2007: MusicStation launches in South Africa with Vodacom[25]
• 1 November 2007: MusicStation launches in the UK with Vodafone[26]
• 12 February 2008: Omnifone launches MusicStation Max, a pre-licensed unlimited music phone development programme with LG signed up as a handset manufacturer[13]
• 15 September 2008: MusicStation launches in New Zealand with Vodafone[27]
• 22 September 2008: MusicStation launches in Australia with Vodafone[28]
• 24 September 2008: Omnifone announces partnership with Sony Ericsson to power PlayNow plus, its pre-licensed unlimited downloads service across Walkman mobiles[29]
• 14 November 2008: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Sweden with Telenor[30]
• 8 January 2009: Omnifone announces partnership with Gracenote to bring unlimited music to multiple device platforms[31]
• 12 January 2009: Omnifone powered in-car entertainment system CarStars wins CNET ‘Best of CES’ Car Tech award at the 2009 International Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas; the largest consumer electronics event in the world[32]
• 16 February 2009: Omnifone announces MusicStation Next Generation unlimited music service for ISPs to fight piracy online, confirming reports that it is in discussions with BSkyB as its first ISP customer[33]
• 13 March 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Switzerland with Swisscom[34]
• 2 April 2009: MusicStation Desktop Edition launches in Hong Kong[16]
• 23 April 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Singapore with Singtel[35]
• 9 June 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Austria with Orange[36]
• 8 September 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in the Netherlands with T-Mobile[37]
• 14 October 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Hungary with T-Mobile[38]
• 19 October 2009: BSkyB launches Sky Songs streaming and downloads service in the UK[39]
• 23 October 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Brazil with Vivo[40]
• 9 November 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Mexico with Telcel[41]
• 20 November 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Croatia with T-Mobile[42]
• 21 November 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Singapore with M1[43]
• 8 January 2010: Omnifone extends relationship with Gracenote, allows for cloud-based music solutions in more than 30 countries in 2010[44]
• 25 January 2010: Omnifone announces partnership with HP for MusicStation on PCs in 10 countries across Europe[6]
• 15 February 2010: Omnifone announces MusicStation for Android[45]
• 16 February 2010: Omnifone first to encode its global music catalogue into Dolby Pulse file format for cloud based digital music services in 2010[46]
• 22 December 2010: Sony launches Q Music Unlimited cloud music service powered by Omnifone in the UK and Ireland[4]
• 22 January 2011: Sony launches Q Music Unlimited cloud music service powered by Omnifone in France, Germany, Italy and Spain[47]
• 17 February 2011: Sony launches Q Music Unlimited cloud music service powered by Omnifone in the US, Australia and New Zealand[48]
• 25 August 2011: RIM launches BBM Music social music service in beta - powered by Omnifone in the US, Canada and the UK [49]
• 13 December 2011: rara.com launches across Europe and the USA - powered by Omnifone [2]
• 14 December 2011: rara.com launches across New Zealand - powered by Omnifone [50]

Awards

Main article: Omnifone

Omnifone has won a number of awards for MusicStation including:

• Oracle UK Partner Awards 2009 – Most Innovative use of Oracle Technology

• CNET ‘Best of CES’ Car Tech Award 2009 – with Gracenote

• Global Mobile Awards 2008 – Best Mobile Music Service Award

• Mobile Industry Awards 2008 – Best Mobile Internet Service

• Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF) Meffys 2007 – Music Service Award Meffy

• Juniper Research Future Music Awards 2008 – Gold Award for Mobile Music

• MCA (Mobile Content Awards) 2008: Silver Award: Best entertainment service

• MAMA (Mobile Advertising & Marketing Awards) 2008: Gold Award: Most Effective Use of Music

See also:

• Omnifone

• Rob Lewis

• Sony Ericsson PlayNow plus

References

  1. ↑ Screen Digest: February 2009: Omnifone unveils MusicStation Next Generation
  2. 1 2 3 [BBC News: 13 December 2011: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16168384]
  3. ↑ Paid Content: 25 August 2011: RIM Breaks Social Ground With Its New BBM Music Service,
  4. 1 2 Engadget: 22 December 2010: Sony's Music Unlimited subscription service ready to stream tunes to PS3s and Bravia TVs in the UK
  5. ↑ Screen Digest: 24 September 2008: Sony Ericsson steals Nokia's thunder with music service
  6. 1 2 The Guardian: 25 January 2010: HP deal strengthens Omnifone's position in digital music battle
  7. ↑ Business Week: 24 January 2010: Hewlett-Packard Computers in Europe Gain Omnifone Music Service
  8. ↑ Financial Times: 11 September 2007: Vodafone reveals its answer to iPhone
  9. ↑ Financial Times: 13 June 2007: Mobile phone groups take on iPhone
  10. ↑ Record of the Day: 2 April 2009: Omnifone brings unlimited music downloads to PC and Mobile with MusicStation Desktop Edition
  11. ↑ Business Day: 31 October 2007: Vodacom to boost data revenue with music download service
  12. ↑ Daily Telegraph, 16 February 2009: Omnifone to launch unlimited online music download service with ISPs
  13. 1 2 Daily Telegraph, 12 February 2008: Free mobile music download service launched
  14. 1 2 Business Week, 25 September 2008: Sony Ericsson Phones To Come With Music Too
  15. 1 2 Music Week, 2 April 2009: Omnifone goes PC
  16. 1 2 3 Billboard, 2 April 2009: Hong Kong First To Get New Omnifone Unlimited Service
  17. ↑ Sony Ericsson.com
  18. ↑ Billboard, 1 November 2007: Nokia, Vodafone Launch UK Mobile Music Services
  19. ↑ Billboard, 9 June 2008: MusicStation Claims U.K. Market-Leader Status
  20. ↑ PC World (New Zealand) 14 December 2011 Streaming music service launches in NZ
  21. ↑ Billboard, 13 December 2011 Rara.com, New Music-Subscription Service, Targets Digital-Music Latecomers
  22. ↑ Financial Times, 13 June 2007: Mobile phone groups take on iPhone
  23. ↑ BBC.co.uk, 14 June 2007: Sound start to music on mobiles
  24. ↑ TMC.net, 31 October 2007: Omnifone Launches MusicStation with 3 Hong Kong
  25. ↑ Bizcommunity.com, 1 November 2007: Vodacom launches music downloads service
  26. ↑ Mobile Choice, 2 November 2007: Vodafone offers unlimited music downloads
  27. ↑ "Vodafone's unlimited music plan". The Dominion Post. 12 September 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  28. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald, 22 September 2008: Unlimited music for the price of a coffee
  29. ↑ BBC News Beat, 25 September 2008: Walkman phone to take on Nokia
  30. ↑ Easybourse, 13 November 2008: Sony Ericsson's PlayNow Plus Music Service Opens Friday In Sweden
  31. ↑ Billboard, 8 January 2009: Omnifone, Gracenote Partner On Integrated Unlimited Music
  32. ↑ CNET, 8 January 2009: Gracenote puts a star in your car
  33. ↑ Daily Telegraph, 16 February 2009: Mobile World Congress: Omnifone to launch unlimited online music download service with ISPs
  34. ↑ Trading Markets, 13 March 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Switzerland
  35. ↑ Crave.com, 23 April 2009: Sony Ericsson announces PlayNow plus in Singapore
  36. ↑ Billboard, 9 June 2009: Austria Gets Unlimited Sony Ericsson Service
  37. ↑ Engadget: 11 September 2009: T-Mobile, Sony Ericsson bring PlayNow Plus to Netherlands
  38. ↑ HWSW.hu: 14 October 2009: Korlátlan zeneletöltés mobilra - itt a PlayNow plus
  39. ↑ Forrester: 12 October 2009: Sky Songs: First Take
  40. ↑ 12 December 2009: Aliado Digital: Brasil: Sony Ericsson lanza PlayNow Plus
  41. ↑ 20 March 2010: Seusers.com: Pasos para poner PlayNow plus
  42. ↑ 20 November 2009: Trading Markets: T-Mobile introduces Sony Ericsson PlayNow Plus in Croatia
  43. ↑ 21 November 2009: OCWorkBench: M1 and Sony Ericsson today announce the launch of Sony Ericsson Yari with PlayNow plus from 21 Nov
  44. ↑ Music Week: 8 January 2010: Omnifone and Gracenote extend deal
  45. ↑ Music Week: 15 February 2010: MusicStation comes to Android
  46. ↑ Music Week: 16 February 2010: Dolby and Omnifone launch new format for the cloud
  47. ↑ Tech Crunch: 22 January 2011: Sony’s cloud-based Qriocity music service debuts in France, Germany, Italy and Spain
  48. ↑ Bloomberg: 17 February 2011: Sony Music Streaming Service Debuts in U.S. to Challenge iTunes
  49. ↑ Wired: 25 August 2011: BlackBerry Messenger adds streaming music service
  50. ↑ [PC World (New Zealand): 14 December 2011: http://pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/pcw.nsf/news/streaming-music-service-launches-in-nz]
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