MusicStation is a music service platform developed by Omnifone. The cloud based platform works across a number of different digital device platforms and is tailored specifically for various partners[1] including rara.com,[2] RIM,[3] Sony,[4] Sony Ericsson,[5] HP,[6] BSkyB,[7] Vodafone,[8] Telenor,[9] Hutchison Telecom[10] and Vodacom.[11]

MusicStation
MusicStation logo
Launch date14 June 2007 (2007-06-14)
Discontinued2011
Platform(s)Mobile, web, PC, Blu-ray players, PS3 games console, PSP portable games console, home cinema systems, Walkman digital audio players, S1 and S2 tablets, in-home, in-car
AvailabilityUS
Canada
UK
Ireland
Australia
New Zealand
France
Germany
Italy
Spain
Austria
Belgium
Netherlands
Luxembourg
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
Finland
Switzerland
Croatia
Hungary
Singapore
Hong Kong
Taiwan
South Africa
Brazil
Mexico
Websitewww.omnifone.com

Services

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In February 2009 Omnifone introduced MusicStation Next Generation,[12] a white label unlimited music audio and video download and streaming solution for ISPs and consumer electronics device vendors. The cloud based solution offers interoperable music on a wide range of connected devices, including home entertainment systems, gaming consoles, and car audio systems.

In April 2009 Hutchison Telecom became the first[13] Omnifone partner to introduce MusicStation Desktop Edition to users in Hong Kong on its 3 network.

Omnifone's MusicStation was the first subscription based unlimited music download service available on mobiles in the UK launching with Vodafone in November 2007.[14]

In June 2008, Omnifone announced that MusicStation had become the largest subscription based unlimited music download service in the UK within seven months of launching on Vodafone.[15]

History

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  • 14 January 2003: British Entrepreneurs Rob Lewis, Phil Sant and Mark Knight form Omnifone
  • 12 February 2007: Omnifone announces MusicStation[16]
  • 14 June 2007: MusicStation goes live with its first rollout in Sweden with Telenor[17]
  • 22 October 2007: MusicStation launches in Hong Kong with 3[18]
  • 1 November 2007: MusicStation launches in South Africa with Vodacom[19]
  • 1 November 2007: MusicStation launches in the UK with Vodafone[20]
  • 12 February 2008: Omnifone launches MusicStation Max, a pre-licensed unlimited music phone development programme with LG signed up as a handset manufacturer[21]
  • 15 September 2008: MusicStation launches in New Zealand with Vodafone[22]
  • 22 September 2008: MusicStation launches in Australia with Vodafone[23]
  • 24 September 2008: Omnifone announces partnership with Sony Ericsson to power PlayNow plus, its pre-licensed unlimited downloads service across Walkman mobiles[24]
  • 14 November 2008: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Sweden with Telenor[25]
  • 8 January 2009: Omnifone announces partnership with Gracenote to bring unlimited music to multiple device platforms[26]
  • 12 January 2009: Omnifone powered in-car entertainment system CarStars wins CNET 'Best of CES' Car Tech award at the 2009 International Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas; the largest consumer electronics event in the world[27]
  • 16 February 2009: Omnifone announces MusicStation Next Generation unlimited music service for ISPs to fight piracy online, confirming reports that it is in discussions with BSkyB as its first ISP customer[28]
  • 13 March 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Switzerland with Swisscom[29]
  • 2 April 2009: MusicStation Desktop Edition launches in Hong Kong[13]
  • 23 April 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Singapore with Singtel[30]
  • 9 June 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Austria with Orange[31]
  • 8 September 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in the Netherlands with T-Mobile[32]
  • 14 October 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Hungary with T-Mobile[33]
  • 19 October 2009: BSkyB launches Sky Songs streaming and downloads service in the UK[34]
  • 23 October 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Brazil with Vivo[35]
  • 9 November 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Mexico with Telcel[36]
  • 20 November 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Croatia with T-Mobile[37]
  • 21 November 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Singapore with M1[38]
  • 8 January 2010: Omnifone extends relationship with Gracenote, allows for cloud-based music solutions in more than 30 countries in 2010[39]
  • 25 January 2010: Omnifone announces partnership with HP for MusicStation on PCs in 10 countries across Europe[6]
  • 15 February 2010: Omnifone announces MusicStation for Android[40]
  • 16 February 2010: Omnifone first to encode its global music catalogue into Dolby Pulse file format for cloud based digital music services in 2010[41]
  • 22 December 2010: Sony launches Q Music Unlimited cloud music service powered by Omnifone in the UK and Ireland[4]
  • 22 January 2011: Sony launches Q Music Unlimited cloud music service powered by Omnifone in France, Germany, Italy and Spain[42]
  • 17 February 2011: Sony launches Q Music Unlimited cloud music service powered by Omnifone in the US, Australia and New Zealand[43]
  • 25 August 2011: RIM launches BBM Music social music service in beta – powered by Omnifone in the US, Canada and the UK[44]
  • 13 December 2011: rara.com launches across Europe and the USA – powered by Omnifone[2]
  • 14 December 2011: rara.com launches across New Zealand – powered by Omnifone[45]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Screen Digest: February 2009: Omnifone unveils MusicStation Next Generation
  2. ^ a b [BBC News: 13 December 2011: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16168384]
  3. ^ Paid Content: 25 August 2011: RIM Breaks Social Ground With Its New BBM Music Service,
  4. ^ a b Engadget: 22 December 2010: Sony's Music Unlimited subscription service ready to stream tunes to PS3s and Bravia TVs in the UK
  5. ^ Screen Digest: 24 September 2008: Sony Ericsson steals Nokia's thunder with music service
  6. ^ a b The Guardian: 25 January 2010: HP deal strengthens Omnifone's position in digital music battle
  7. ^ Business Week: 24 January 2010: Hewlett-Packard Computers in Europe Gain Omnifone Music Service
  8. ^ "Vodafone reveals its answer to iPhone". Financial Times. 11 September 2007.
  9. ^ Financial Times: 13 June 2007: Mobile phone groups take on iPhone
  10. ^ Record of the Day: 2 April 2009: Omnifone brings unlimited music downloads to PC and Mobile with MusicStation Desktop Edition Archived 3 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Business Day: 31 October 2007: Vodacom to boost data revenue with music download service
  12. ^ Daily Telegraph, 16 February 2009: Omnifone to launch unlimited online music download service with ISPs
  13. ^ a b "Billboard, 2 April 2009: Hong Kong First To Get New Omnifone Unlimited Service". Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  14. ^ "Billboard, 1 November 2007: Nokia, Vodafone Launch UK Mobile Music Services". Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  15. ^ "Billboard, 9 June 2008: MusicStation Claims U.K. Market-Leader Status". Archived from the original on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  16. ^ Financial Times, 13 June 2007: Mobile phone groups take on iPhone
  17. ^ BBC.co.uk, 14 June 2007: Sound start to music on mobiles
  18. ^ TMC.net, 31 October 2007: Omnifone Launches MusicStation with 3 Hong Kong
  19. ^ Bizcommunity.com, 1 November 2007: Vodacom launches music downloads service
  20. ^ "Mobile Choice, 2 November 2007: Vodafone offers unlimited music downloads". Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  21. ^ Daily Telegraph, 12 February 2008: Free mobile music download service launched
  22. ^ "Vodafone's unlimited music plan". The Dominion Post. 12 September 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  23. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 22 September 2008: Unlimited music for the price of a coffee
  24. ^ BBC News Beat, 25 September 2008: Walkman phone to take on Nokia
  25. ^ "Easybourse, 13 November 2008: Sony Ericsson's PlayNow Plus Music Service Opens Friday In Sweden". Archived from the original on 3 February 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  26. ^ "Billboard, 8 January 2009: Omnifone, Gracenote Partner On Integrated Unlimited Music". Archived from the original on 26 July 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  27. ^ "CNET, 8 January 2009: Gracenote puts a star in your car". Archived from the original on 18 August 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  28. ^ Daily Telegraph, 16 February 2009: Mobile World Congress: Omnifone to launch unlimited online music download service with ISPs
  29. ^ "Trading Markets, 13 March 2009: Sony Ericsson launches PlayNow plus in Switzerland". Archived from the original on 19 March 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  30. ^ Crave.com, 23 April 2009: Sony Ericsson announces PlayNow plus in Singapore
  31. ^ "Billboard, 9 June 2009: Austria Gets Unlimited Sony Ericsson Service". Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  32. ^ "Engadget: 11 September 2009: T-Mobile, Sony Ericsson bring PlayNow Plus to Netherlands". Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  33. ^ HWSW.hu: 14 October 2009: Korlátlan zeneletöltés mobilra – itt a PlayNow plus
  34. ^ Forrester: 12 October 2009: Sky Songs: First Take Archived 15 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^ "12 December 2009: Aliado Digital: Brasil: Sony Ericsson lanza PlayNow Plus". Archived from the original on 25 January 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  36. ^ 20 March 2010: Seusers.com: Pasos para poner PlayNow plus
  37. ^ 20 November 2009: Trading Markets: T-Mobile introduces Sony Ericsson PlayNow Plus in Croatia[permanent dead link]
  38. ^ 21 November 2009: OCWorkBench: M1 and Sony Ericsson today announce the launch of Sony Ericsson Yari with PlayNow plus from 21 Nov
  39. ^ Music Week: 8 January 2010: Omnifone and Gracenote extend deal
  40. ^ Music Week: 15 February 2010: MusicStation comes to Android
  41. ^ Music Week: 16 February 2010: Dolby and Omnifone launch new format for the cloud
  42. ^ Tech Crunch: 22 January 2011: Sony’s cloud-based Qriocity music service debuts in France, Germany, Italy and Spain
  43. ^ Bloomberg: 17 February 2011: Sony Music Streaming Service Debuts in U.S. to Challenge iTunes
  44. ^ "Wired: 25 August 2011: BlackBerry Messenger adds streaming music service". Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  45. ^ [PC World (New Zealand): 14 December 2011: http://pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/pcw.nsf/news/streaming-music-service-launches-in-nz Archived 21 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine]
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