Alltel promotes side-loading with Jump Music app

Alltel Wireless is following AT&T Mobility’s lead by encouraging subscribers to side-load tunes from their computers to mobile phones.
The Little Rock, Ark.-based carrier launched Jump Music, a free downloadable application for transferring files from PCs to Alltel handsets via a USB cable. The software also interfaces with online digital music store eMusic, which offers more than 2.5 million tracks in the DRM-free MP3 format.
Jump Music is initially compatible with five Alltel phones: LG Electronics Co. Ltd.’s AX8600, the K1m and Razr V3m from Motorola Inc., and Samsung Electronic Co. Ltd.’s u520 and Wafer. Alltel also launched a $50 accessory kit including a USB cable, stereo headset and 256 MB memory card.
“For those who have been waiting for an easy way for customers to put music on their phones-Jump Music is it,” said Wade McGill, senior VP of wireless products for Alltel. “Jump Music makes it incredibly simple for our customers to take their music with them anywhere they go, and it demonstrates our commitment to providing customers choice and control over their wireless experience.”
AT&T earlier this year rolled out a full-track service that interfaces with several online music stores. Sprint Nextel Corp. and Verizon Wireless, meanwhile, are targeting music lovers with their own branded digital music storefronts.