Sony Ericsson's iTunes killer -- 10 record companies on board

Me again — Sony Ericsson news once more. On the back of my ‘iPhone: next!’ post last week, it’s great to hear that Sony have apparently picked up the bat and are working away on their PlayNow service.

Could be good, could be good.

Link: StrategyEye :: Visual Market Intelligence

Sony Ericsson has struck distribution deals with 10 record companies including three of the world’s four major labels, as part of plans to launch its own iTunes rival. The company, which is the world’s fourth largest mobile handset vendor by sales, has partnered with Sony BMG, Warner Music and EMI to provide music to its PlayNow web and mobile service, which it will relaunch as an upgraded version in May. The service will attempt to rival the likes of iTunes and Nokia’s music service, ‘Comes With Music’, which the Finnish handset maker launched late last year. Sony Ericsson says its upgraded music portal will be available in 30 countries by the end of this year and will offer more than 5m tracks. Nokia’s music service, which distributes music from the other four major label, Universal, already offers 3m songs.