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Seems folks like a bit of music with their mobile phone, who knew?  Sony Ericsson (“SE”) announced they will join the growing list of manufacturers that offer some kind of music service with their phones.  Designed to compete with Nokia’s cleverly named “comes with music,” SE plans to begin the service in Sweden, then expand to Western Europe.

The service will be an all-you-can-eat unlimited music subscription and should roll out mid-way through 2009; Rome wasn’t build in a day.  Nokia’s service starts up next month in the UK.  Nokia’s plan is expected to cost 70 pounds extra, though there is some belief the cost will be rolled into a contract price.

Manufacturers chase customers

While mobile phone growth continues slowing from its breakneck adoption speeds, manufacturers have to find a way to get new product into more hands.  More and more companies are looking to add something extra to their phones.  Music is just on feature they can try to compete on.  Interesting that here in the states, the telecoms fight that battle, not the vendor.

Subscriptions to the US?

There is no indication that SE will bring this service to the US, nor is there any indication they won’t.  Something tells me the US market is headed of an onslaught of new music subscription services.  Many believe one of the iPhones strongest plays is the consumer that wanted to leverage their iTunes library onto a mobile phone platform.  Other makers may have difficulty competing with that model as the subscription model, like the one offered with the Microsoft Zune that fail to catch on.

Apple has been rumored to be close to doing something on this front but never does.  As usual, they seem to be playing their cards close to the vest.

Read [Reuters]