AT&T offering 2.7 million songs to customers

If there’s anything we love more than cell phones, it’s sports…and music. But let’s focus on music for right now. It seems we’re moving towards a hybrid phone system, where your cell will act as not only your method of communication, but your method of jamming out. The LG Chocolate really stated the push, and the Apple iPhone gave it a swift kick forward. Why carry around a phone and an iPod when you can get both in one device? Other than the theft implications (we’d be devastated if we lost one device, let alone both), this is a grand idea that we see spreading further and further as cell phone technology advances. AT&T is now making another push in that direction. When you normally download songs from your phone, you’re limited in your selections to very mainstream artists and songs. However, not all musical tastes are the same. There is a greater and greater cry for independent music, and AT&T is hearing that call. They’re now offering 2.7 million songs recorded by independent artists to their subscribers. The best part: when you download the song to your handset, a duplicate copy is available for your computer for free. That’s something you don’t hear very often in the wireless industry, so we’ll say it again. For free. The music will route through iTunes, making this the perfect complement to the iPhone. Blocks of five tracks are available for $7.49, so you’re paying a bit more than the normal iTunes $1 per song. So maybe that copy to your computer isn’t free after all. It says, however, that you can get a package of five tracks “a month,” which really makes us wonder. If you don’t use your five tracks by the end of the month, do they disappear? Are you out cash because you forgot that yesterday was July 31? Will you be billed a full $7.49 if you buy a song on the 30th? We certainly hope not. If AT&T can have rollover minutes, they can surely have rollover songs. The service is provided by eMusic, an electronic music distribution company. Their CEO’s name is David Pakman. Must…resist…joke…about…him…eating…phones… [San Antonio Business Journal]]]>