Margin Check: Vodafone music, Skype worms, Comcast hogs and more

Editor’s Note: Welcome to On the Margins, a feature for RCR Wireless News’ new weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. Every week, the RCR Wireless News staff considers events in the wider business world and how they could affect the wireless industry.
–Vodafone announced plans to launch a music offering in the United Kingdom, providing unlimited access to songs in an attempt to battle the soon-to-launch Apple iPhone. The service is expected to run through British music firm Omnifone and provide access to more than 1 million songs for around $2.75 per week. While music-centric offerings like Apple’s iTunes and subscription services from companies like Napster are thought to have a leadership position in mobile music, Vodafone’s aggressive plans show it’s not wise to count out well-established carriers.
–Voice over Internet Protocol provider Skype was recently the target of a virus attack that used the company’s software to trick users into downloading the virus onto their computer. The virus did not appear to impact Skype’s service, but did impact users’ computers. While Skype and other VoIP services have always been seen as fringe offerings, the virus-spreading community appears to see opportunity and should keep mobile application companies on their toes.
–Cable giant Comcast has reportedly begun shutting down heavy users of its Internet service. Comcast did not provide specific limits on what a heavy user was, but did note they downloaded the equivalent of 1,000 songs or four full-length moves every day. Content providers need to be aware of such possibilities as they roll out more data-intensive applications, especially as mobile carriers generally suffer more capacity constraints than their wired couterparts.
–Broadcast Music Inc. said it plans to distribute more than $732 million in royalties to the songwriters, composers and copyright owners it represents, which is an 8% increase compared to last year. The company said the rise was due in part to new distribution channels for content. Despite digital rights management concerns regarding the distribution of digital music, it appears the market is showing strong growth.