Sprint Offers Streaming Music Service For Phones

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP)--Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) is becoming the latest cellphone carrier to let its customers listen to music on the devices.

The nation's No. 3 wireless provider said Monday that it and Seattle-based digital-media provider RealNetworks Inc. (RNWK) are launching a streaming music service for Sprint PCS customers called Rhapsody Radio.

The service provides streaming radio stations, a freestyle rap service called "Beats N Breaks," music news, videos and podcasts - recorded audio files that are downloaded from the Internet - for $6.95 per month.

This is the second partnership between the companies. Sprint, which has corporate headquarters in Reston, Va., and operational headquarters in Overland Park, already uses RealNetworks to provide streaming video content for its Real-rTV service.

Wireless companies, inspired by the popularity of Apple Computer Inc.'s (AAPL) iPod and other MP3 players, have raced each other to add music content to their service portfolios.

Earlier this month, Apple introduced the ROKR, a phone made by Motorola Inc. (MOT) that comes loaded with iTunes software and allows users to load up to 100 songs on their phones. The service is being sold in the U.S. by Cingular Wireless.

Verizon Wireless also provides downloadable music videos over its service.

Shares of Sprint recently were down 57 cents at $24.81 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Shares of RealNetworks rose 21 cents, or 3.8%, to $5.80 in Nasdaq composite trading.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 19th September 2005