Nokia Music Store launches in UAE

The first online Nokia Music Store in the Middle East opened today in the UAE, allowing consumers to download music files legally for as little as AED3 (US$0.82) per song or AED30 per album, which can then be transferred to mobile phones and other handheld devices.

Consumers can listen to a 30 second clip of any track on the Nokia Music Store, with international, Arabic and Bollywood tastes catered for on the UAE website.

The online store can be accessed at http://music.nokia.ae, with the UAE being the 12^th country worldwide the service has been launched in.

Nokia intends to capitalise on the digital music phenomenon as an additional revenue stream, and it is yet another example of the Finnish handset manufacturer diversifying its portfolio from hardware to Internet services and converged media offerings.

There are more than 300 million Nokia music-enabled devices sold globally and vice president sales for Middle East and North Africa, Chris Braam, believes that leveraging off the strength of Nokia’s brand in the UAE gives the company a strong advantage.

“We are very excited to be extending the Nokia Music Store to our consumers in the UAE, as the market has demonstrated that it is ready for such a service,” Braam stated. “The UAE is one of the leading regional markets in terms of digital connectivity and has one of the highest Internet penetrations in the Arab world, with an extensive 3.5G network provided by both operators. Moreover, people here are comfortable with online purchasing, and e-commerce services in general are mature.”

International, Arabic and Bollywood tastes are catered for with music provided by major international and regional labels including Universal, Sony BMG, Warner, EMI, Rotana and leading content aggregator Qanawat, as well as thousands of independent labels. A monthly subscription is available for PC streaming for AED20.

Consumers can access the Nokia Music Store via their computer using the Nokia Music for PC software, which allows users to manage their music, create playlists and synchronise their music library with their Nokia device. Users can also access the software directly from compatible devices, and listen to a 30 second clip of any track on the store before buying it.