Ericsson and Sony Music Germany have worked together to develop the service, which enables consumers to send and receive music clips together with messages that incorporate information about the music, the artist, and associated artwork in MMS format.

The digital music delivery service features an intelligent learning system, which stores up a consumer's list of selections and is able to make further suggestions of music that he or she may like to listen to. The system also makes it possible to set up communities with mailing lists, forums, lists of hits and recommendations.

"This is an extremely important development for Sony Music - particularly at a time when the music industry in Germany is facing a real downturn in revenue from traditional sales channels," said Balthasar Schramm, President, Sony Music Entertainment Germany, Switzerland and Austria. "In Ericsson we have a partner who has the experience and knowledge in this technology-driven market to complement our assets best. We now have a new medium that delivers music and related services which brings in a new revenue stream - but that most importantly, meets the demands of fans."

Ericsson and Sony Music Germany will offer their new music service to mobile network operators as a flexible multimedia solution. Network operators thus get a wealth of basic services for their portals which can then be enhanced with further services and marketing campaigns. The music service via MMS, WAP, SMS or the Internet will initially be available for mobile network operators in Germany, Switzerland and Austria from spring 2003.

"We are proud to work together with Sony Music to bring the dynamic content of this major music entertainment label to the mobile channel," said Kristian Teär, President, Market Unit Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Ericsson.

"The richness of content and user convenience of bringing music to the mobile phone in this way begins a very exciting, new consumer focused service which we are confident other markets and labels will emulate."