01 Aug 2006

Music Phones For Every Type of Music Need

If you've spent time downloading the perfect music collection to your portable MP3 player, chances are you've considered upgrading your mobile to a music cell phone.

By music phone we mean one of those cool handsets that let you play your favorite tunes, stream radio stations and download new music while on the go.

Deciding which cellular music phone is right for you will depend on your lifestyle and music needs. It also will depend on how willing you are to get comfortable with the technology behind downloading music to your phone - a process that typically won't require much more than a USB cable and a simple music program download (which you may have already on your computer).

The good news is, wireless providers have worked tirelessly to out-do their competitors by adding on the most innovative, no-fuss music options to their dedicated music phones. Whether you're a long-time customer or just thinking of switching carriers, the savvy consumer has the ultimate advantage when it comes to shopping for a music phone.

Phones with Built-in iTunes or MP3 Player

Put simply, a music-capable phone is any cellular device capable of downloading and playing music. Music phones vary from the dedicated music phone with iTunes platform, to the phone that will stream FM Radio directly to your handset, to a smartphone that incorporates a stereo MP3 player.

Phones that incorporate iTunes - such as the Motorola ROKR and its successor, the SLVR - usually hold up to 100 songs. If you already use iTunes, you can sync your music phone via USB cable so that it interfaces with your iTunes software. The rest is fairly simple - just drag and drop music files from your music library directly to your music cell phone once it appears on your source list.

Many music-capable cell phones today include a stereo MP3 player. Depending on the memory storage, most music phones with built-in MP3 player will hold as many as 25 songs prior to installing a memory card. If your cellular device also keeps you productive at work while out of the office, most smartphones currently on the market now offer MP3 stereo player, which also lets you download music directly to your cellular device from your music manager on your PC, such as Windows Media Player.

Wireless Over-the-Air (OTA) Music Services

An IDC study conducted in June 2006 predicts that by 2010, the number of consumers using over the air music service to download tunes to their music cell phones will surpass the number of online wireless music service users. Over the air music service means that you can use your cell phone to surf the web and download music wirelessly, or stream live FM and satellite radio stations.

If you like the idea of having a music phone that lets you listen to your favorite radio stations, many new dedicated music phones on the market allow you to stream FM radio stations, and even satellite radio. Sprint PCS customers who own a Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Phone, for example, can stream Sirius satellite radio programming through a built-in media player for $6.95 a month.

If your phone has access to the mobile web, many carriers allow users to access their music stores to purchase and download music wirelessly using EV-DO technology. The Sprint Music Store and Verizon V-CAST are two online music stores that allow you to download music directly to your phone using a mobile web connection. Beware that wireless carriers frequently charge extra for mobile web access in addition to your monthly service fee. If you have a Verizon V-CAST phone, you must live within the V-CAST coverage area in order to access the music store.

Transferring or Adding Music to Your Music Phone

If you don't already have a music library saved to your PC, there is a wide selection of online music stores to choose from. In addition to the iTunes music store, the Sprint Music Store and Verizon Wireless Music Store offer a diverse array of music ranging from chart-topping hits to hard-to-find music. You can buy and download music from these sites for anywhere from $0.99 to $2.50 per song.

If you want to download music wirelessly, Verizon V-CAST and the Sprint Music Store require you to add mobile web access to your wireless plan - both of which cost an additional monthly fee. The Sprint Power Vision Access Pack and the V-CAST V-Pak give you unlimited web access for wireless music downloads, but cost an extra $15 a month and in some cases require a 12-month commitment.

This of course does not include the cost of upgrading your phone. Verizon V-CAST services will only work with a dedicated V-CAST music phone, which includes a starter kit and all the necessary accessories. Expect to pay extra if you want a V-CAST memory card for extra music storage space, which will allow you to store up to 500 songs on your music phone.

Facing the Music Trend

An IDC study conducted in June 2006 found that U.S. wireless music services will have over 50 million users and generate more than a billion dollars in revenue by 2010 - that's just five years after appearing on the market in late 2005.

For some (or maybe even for most), the prospect of choosing a music phone may seem daunting. Particularly if you're the type who just got the hang of using your phone's camera or are new to text messaging. If, on the other hand, you currently have or have even considered getting an iPod or other MP3 player that fits in your pocket, be forewarned. You may be approaching the all-in-one cell-phone-turned-music-player device faster than you think.

Back to Cell Phone Articles Archive
Shop for a Music Phone Deal now