Vodafone launches MusicStation service in Britain

Vodafone Group launched its mobile music service in Britain on Thursday to allow users to download and share unlimited tracks, one week before the long-awaited UK iPhone debut from Apple.

The mobile phone giant has signed an exclusive deal with British music firm Omnifone that will make 1.2 million tracks available from the world's biggest music labels for 1.99 pounds ($4.13) a week through MusicStation.

Vodafone users with compatible handsets were able to download the service from Thursday, and it will roll out on other handsets over the coming weeks including touch-screen devices and BlackBerry smartphones.

The phones will be available from Vodafone and Phones4U shops. Users signed up to the service will be able to create playlists and share songs with other MusicStation users on Vodafone's 2.5G, 3G and the faster HSDPA mobile networks.

"On a very wide range of handsets, UK consumers now have the freedom to download, share and play unlimited amounts of music, direct to their phone, whenever they want," Omnifone Chief Executive Rob Lewis said in a statement.

Mobile handset makers and network operators have been looking to music in recent years to boost revenue.

Apple's latest "must-have" gadget, the iPhone, goes on sale in Britain on Nov. 9 through its deal with Spanish-owned O2 and retailer Carphone Warehouse, while Nokia, the world's largest cell phone maker, has also unveiled an online music store.

Analysts have welcomed the fact that MusicStation users will keep their music when they switch handsets -- as long as they keep their Vodafone contract -- and see the service as an easy and affordable way to buy music.

In addition to the Vodafone UK launch, MusicStation has agreed deals with Telenor in Sweden and Hutchison Whampoa 3 in Hong Kong. It said on Thursday it would go live with Vodacom in South Africa in early December.