Nokia partners with The Cloud for music access

Nokia announced an agreement with European wireless broadband provider The Cloud to offer its customers free access to the Nokia Music Store at over 7,500 Wi-Fi hotspots. Cloud subscribers can connect to the Nokia Music Store via laptop computer or optimized Nokia device, beginning with the Nokia N81 and Nokia N95 8GB--while Wi-Fi access is free, individual tracks cost 80p (roughly $1.60) and albums start at £8 (about $16.00). Nokia Music Store also offers a monthly subscription for PC streaming for £8. The Nokia Music Store features over two million tracks from major artists, independent labels and emerging acts, while Cloud Wi-Fi networks are available in a variety of locations including McDonald's, Coffee Republic, BAA airports and across London's Square Mile.  

"If I am out and about and I hear a track in a shop or a friend recommends something, I want to be able to download it immediately--not wait until I get home. It is this immediacy that The Cloud caters for," said The Cloud's director of business development Owen Geddes in a prepared statement. "The high speed connectivity of Wi-Fi means it is the only real choice for consumers wanting fast and easy access to all types of multimedia content on the go."

For more on the Nokia/Cloud deal:
- read this release [1]

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Warner yanks content from Nokia Music Store [3]
Nokia Music Store [4] launches in U.K.
Nokia [5] to debut music download service