Nokia's Comes With Music at just 107,227 users
updated 07:45 am EDT, Fri October 16, 2009
Nokia CWM service has poor uptake
New figures provided to music labels show Nokia's Comes With Music unlimited music service has had a relatively poor uptake despite having a year to expand. Data from July obtained by Music Ally shows just 107,227 active users worldwide for the service, which lets buyers of specially-labeled phones get a year's worth of unlimited music downloads they can keep after the subscription ends. The news comes despite heavy promotion by Nokia and the support of all the major music labels.
The number of subscribers also risks declining this month as UK residents, the first to approach the end of their built-in service, may choose not to renew their subscriptions.
Nokia doesn't explain the poor turnout and in an official response claims that the service is still young, arguing that Comes Within Music has had a "fast rollout" and hasn't had much time to grow as a result. A spokesperson also promises more countries and other deals in "coming weeks."
Unofficially, however, it's noted that the music service has disproportionately fewer subscribers in countries where it faces the strongest competition, such as in Europe. The continent is one of the stronger bases for iTunes and also has alternatives like 7digital and Spotify that don't exist in other areas.
it's the phones stupid
10/16, 08:34am reply
it actually sounds like a great offer (I forget, can you move the songs off your phone to your computer???), but at the end of the day people want a phone they enjoy using and as a status symbol too. Nokia is hardly the first choice when people want a good phone these days.
climacs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
music subscriptions
10/16, 08:59am reply
Music subscriptions have never been a popular option.
For some, it may be a great option, but for the majority, it's probably too much of a hassle dealing with a subscription-based service... finding, picking, downloading and syncing it.
And after all that, it's not yours to keep. Stop paying the monthly fee and it's all gone... along with your effort.
If you want unlimited music, turn on the radio... FM or internet.
The bottom line, is that people prefer to own their music.
JeffHarris
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 1999
Proving once again
10/16, 10:45am reply
Subscription model is for a very very small group of users. It's not what most people want, no matter how many times these Windows Bloggers slam Apple for not having it.
slapppy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2008
Bloggers are a vocal minority...
10/16, 11:26am reply
It's like they don't live in the real world. I think that bloggers are more technically adept than the average user and these bloggers believe they are average users. Most of the people I know have their own CDs or older vinyls and that's what they're using to put on their handsets. Most of them are not heavily into the fast landscape of changing music such as hits of the week. They happen to like owning their music. I think that subscription music can be useful but only to the point of buying the music you've heard. Getting a few songs a month to keep is nice. People are always slamming Apple for not doing this or that, but Apple has done their homework by using the people that matter for the most part. I do think Apple also has projects that they push that are driven by Steven Jobs regardless of what other people think.
iphonerulez
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2008