Verizon sweetens mobile music deal

Verizon Wireless is getting increasingly aggressive with its VCast Music service, today dropping the $15 monthly data usage charge previously required to download music. The move comes as the company rolls out the LG Chocolate phone from LG as its new flagship mobile music device. With a scroll-wheel navigation pad, dedicated music keys, and up to 2GB of storage--via an optional $100 SanDisk removable micoSD card--Verizon is practically calling the Chocolate the wireless answer to the iPod. It will be available August 7 for $150 after a $50 mail-in rebate.

As for dropping the data plan costs--Verizon is keeping mum on the number of tracks downloaded from the VCast Music service to date, so it's difficult to say whether the move is a reaction to slow uptake. Regardless, it's a shrewd move. Consumers may pay $15 a month for unlimited access to music, or $1.99 for per-track downloads, but few will pay for both.

For more details on Verizon's mobile music plans:
- take a look at a this article from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)
- watch Verizon VP of digital media John Harrobin on YouTube