London, 10th July, 2009: Orange today announces that it will offer Digital Rights Management (DRM)-free music downloads for customers in a major refresh of its Music Portal, Orange.co.uk/music, and the converged mobile and web music download service, the Orange Music Store. Customers are now able to enjoy an easier route to find, purchase, manage and listen to music with Orange.
DRM-free music downloads have already been secured with Universal Music, EMI Music and a number of independent labels. Providing access to over 700,000 tracks, the DRM-free catalogue will be enhanced in the coming months. Orange is also introducing new tiered pricing, with downloads now available from 79p. Once downloaded customers will have the freedom to use their purchased music however they like, whether listening to it on their mobile phone, putting it on another PC, burning it to CD or transferring to a personal MP3 player. Whilst downloaded tracks are delivered to both the mobile handset and the PC, track downloads are charged only once.
The Orange Music Store, which sits within the Orange Music Portal, upgraded its look and feel and now has a clearer format with enhanced browsing and navigation that makes it easier to discover and download music. In the coming weeks, Orange will also be making a further refresh to the Music Portal to continue the enhancements to the user experience. Searching and navigating the site will become faster and easier and music fans will be able to access information on music events such as Orange RockCorps, or read about news and the latest tariff and handset offers such as Nokia ‘Comes With Music.’ All music content can be discovered and accessed from one place by simply logging on to the Music Portal at www.orange.co.uk/music.
The Orange Music Store and Portal refresh build on Orange’s pledge to provide customers with a large, high quality music and entertainment offering. Orange continues its involvement with music related partnerships, and with an 11th successful Glastonbury partnership just completed and a second year of Orange RockCorps to come, the Orange Music Portal will be the best source of music news and information for fans.
Paul Jevons, Director of Products, Portals and Services for Orange said: “Orange is committed to providing customers with the widest access to music tracks and content. Upgrading the Music Portal and introducing DRM-free music helps customers enjoy music how and when they want. We look forward to enhancing the DRM-free music catalogue over the coming months.”
