By CNET Networks, 21 November 2002 09:21
NEWS Record label Sony Music has purchased a small New York wireless entertainment company as part of a broader move to expand its products for mobile phones. Start-up Run Tones and its executives will form the core of Sony's new Mobile Products group, which will manage products such as ringtones and online listening services aimed at users of mobile phones and other mobile device. Thomas Gewecke, senior vice president of business development at Sony Music, said: "This is an interesting way for us to bring some of the technology into the company and flesh out our efforts." Sony and other record labels are increasingly looking toward the wireless arena as a promotional vehicle, a potential source of revenue, and ultimately, even a means of distribution. New mobile phone network technologies and audio compression techniques make it viable to listen to streamed audio on a mobile phone that's as good as FM radio or even near-CD quality. Promotional materials such as mobile phone ringtones are also growing in popularity. Like other record labels, Sony already has a few wireless experiments in operation, although the most extensive of these are overseas. Recently the company announced a "listening party" service, in which music fans can call a number and listen to 30-second samples of albums before release dates. John Borland writes for News.com
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