RIM believes it could hit a harmonious note with consumers by launching its own music streaming service say sources. The news comes on the same day wireless phone carrier MetroPCS announced it had struck a deal with subscription digital music service Rhapsody.
Though details of RIM’s potential foray into the world of music streaming remain sketchy, Reuters says sources have told the news agency it is in in late- stage negotiations with major music labels including Universal Music Group, Sony Music, Warner Music Group and EMI.
The service should officially be announced just before Labor Day, September 5, the sources say.
“BBM is a dynamic social platform and one of the largest mobile social networks in the world with over 45 Million BBM users. However, I’m unable to comment on this specific report as RIM’s standard policy is to decline comment on rumors and speculation,” a RIM spokesman told RCR.
Meanwhile MetroPCS said it would offer the Rhapsody cloud music service to Android phone customers with monthly bundled plans costing around $60. 20% of MetroPCS’ 9.1 million customers already carry an Android device, and the new bundle would include extra value added services like visual voice mail.
Rhapsody, which streams music from the cloud to numerous devices over the Internet comes with a regular subscription rate of $10 a month, and competes with services like Spotify and Pandora. Apple, Google and Amazon have also all made moves towards the music streaming and storage space. The service currently boasts 800,000 subscribers, currently the biggest paid subscription service in the U.S.
Warner Music Group seems to be the only thorn on Rhapsody’s rose, at the moment, having not licensed its music to the service yet. That means Rhapsody’s digital music catalogue boasts 12 million songs and excludes tracks from artists like Bruno Mars, Ceelo Green, Jason Derulo, Diddy and Madonna.
MetroPCS’ move is similar to Verizon’s deal with Mog and Rdio which extends carrier billing, allowing users to pay for music downloads on their phone bill.
Cricket Communications also has its own music service, Muve, which built up 100,000 users in five months.
