Cricket delays Muve unlimited mobile music service

Leap Wireless' (NASDAQ:LEAP) prepaid Cricket Communications unit said it will delay the launch of its Muve Music all-you-can-eat service in order to smooth out some software issues. Cricket announced Muve Music in late 2010, stating it would introduce the service this week in tandem with the new Samsung Suede touchscreen multimedia phone; however, Cricket spokesman Greg Lund tells All Things Digital the operator will instead roll out the service in the Las Vegas area later this month, expanding to nine additional markets in February and continuing its rollout into the spring. Cricket wants to make certain the user experience is ironed out before asking subscribers to pay for the Muve service, Lund said: "It's got to be just perfect."

Touted as the first unlimited digital music service bundled with a new wireless rate plan, Muve Music includes songs from all four major labels (Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and EMI Music). The solution leverages a new SanDisk solution that enables DRM-free over-the-air downloads--content is stored and protected on a special flash memory card, which according to Cricket skirts conventional DRM requirements and translates to an improved user experience, enhanced handset performance and extended battery life. Cricket notes that the Samsung Suede will ship with a dedicated music button enabling one-touch access to Muve content; in addition to full-track downloads, the service also boasts unlimited ringtones and ringbacks.

Cricket Communications serves over 5 million customers in more than 30 states. Muve Music is available as part of the company's $55 flat-rate monthly service package, which includes unlimited nationwide calling as well as unlimited messaging, mobile web access, data backup and video.

For more:
- read this All Things Digital article

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