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Vodafone U.K. Trials New D2C Service, Uses “Text Trigger” To Cut Data Charge

By Peggy Anne Salz - Tue 26 Jun 2007 02:30 AM PST

Vodafone U.K. will trial a new off-portal service that gives users access to Sony BMG music tracks via a “text trigger.” Put simply, the service - developed together with mobile music service provider Groove Mobile – lets users access music from the BMG WAP portal store by sending an SMS to a short code. With this service, the companies say, users can access full track OTA downloads from their favorite artists via SMS short codes without the fear of incurring additional high data charges. Vodafone is undertaking the three-month trial to stimulate off-portal music downloads by simplifying the payment process. (Release)

Posted in: Companies, Music Labels, SonyBMG, Operators, Vodafone, Countries, Europe, UK, Mobile Music

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From Eric Wed 27 Jun 2007 09:29 AM

I don’t get it… what’s new here? SMS discovery has been around for years. The PR does not mention the data airtime cost of the actual download…

From James Quintana Pearce Wed 27 Jun 2007 04:37 PM

Eric, the new thing is the lower data cost for the song download. Vodafone is effectively trialling off-portal content with reasonable data charges—although you’re right, the actual charge isn’t stated. Still, lower is better.

From Lodewijk Cornelis Wed 05 Sep 2007 07:37 AM

And there are companies out there offering zero-rating billing services so that content can be delivered without any data charges. They would be absorbed by the content providers (just like a supermarket does)