Pandora goes free on Sprint phones

Personalized digital radio service Pandora announced it is now available for free on more than 20 Sprint mobile devices. Sprint subscribers previously paid $2.99 per month for the Pandora service--the free incarnation will now be available to all of the operator's customers with compatible handsets (including the Samsung Instinct) and data plans. Like the ad-funded desktop version of Pandora, the revamped mobile service will feature advertising support, with an emphasis on audio ads. Pandora advertisers include HP, Microsoft, Toyota, AT&T, Procter and Gamble and Nike.

Sprint was the first U.S. operator to introduce Pandora on mobile when the two firms partnered in May 2007. Pandora enables users to submit artists or songs they like to experience personalized radio stations promising a continuous stream of songs in the same sound and style. Pandora's recommendation engine is based on its proprietary Music Genome Project system, which employs trained musicians to analyze songs one at a time according to some 400 individual elements like melody, harmony, rhythm, instrumentation, orchestration, arrangement, lyrics and vocals. The Pandora service currently boasts a user base of more than 18 million registered listeners.

For more on the free Pandora service:
- read this release

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