Cingular Helps Customers Solve the Musical Mystery With Its Enhanced Music Recognition Service

Cingular Helps Customers Solve the Musical Mystery With Its Enhanced Music Recognition Service

Cingular's MusicID Offers Two Great Options for Discovering Music

ATLANTA, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless has taken the guesswork out of identifying a recorded song with its enhanced music recognition service, MusicID. Available in two formats -- Text Messaging and JAVA Application -- MusicID uses Cingular's digital voice network to listen to and identify a recorded song from the radio, television, CD or some other external source. Cingular is the first carrier in North America to launch music recognition in both a text message option and advanced (JAVA) download application.

"One of the key value propositions for the mobile music space focuses on helping people stay better connected to their music as they move through their day," said Jim Ryan, vice president of consumer data services, Cingular Wireless. "MusicID does this because it enables anyone who has ever heard a great song playing but didn't know the name of the song or artist, to find out then and there."

Cingular's MusicID service searches against a database containing more than three million recorded songs and then ID's the song. All it takes is a capable handset, some recorded music, and a couple of punches on the phone's keypad to ID the song while it's playing. Within a few seconds, the user will receive the track title and artist name on the phone's screen. Moreover, once a song or artist is matched, users will have the opportunity to purchase the ringtone of the song.

"MusicID is just another example of Cingular creatively using wireless connectivity to enhance our customer's music experience. We are excited to offer data services like MusicID to our more than 54 million customers that want to stay atop of and connected to all things music," added Ryan.

MusicID: Messaging Application

With the messaging version, Cingular MusicID users simply dial #ID (#43) from their handset when they hear a song they want to identify. After holding their phone up to the music source for a few seconds, they will receive a text message with the name of the song and the artist, as well as information on purchasing a ringtone of the identified song, if available. The cost to use the MusicID messaging application is $.99 per ID.

For users of the messaging application, Cingular is currently promoting a "buy two, get one free" offer until March 31. Additionally, after the third purchase, users will be invited to sign up for unlimited IDs at $6.99 per month.

MusicID: JAVA Application

Today, Cingular customers who have a Nokia 6682 can ID a song using the JAVA version of MusicID -- an industry first. When customers download the JAVA application, they simply select the "ID Song" option, hold their phone up to the speaker and then wait a few seconds for the song to be identified. Once the song is matched, users will see a color page with the name of the song and artist, as well as album cover art.

In addition to providing users with a colorful, easy-to-navigate interface, the JAVA-application links directly to the ringtone and graphics of the matched song and/or artist. The application also intelligently recommends content based on the song matched, providing a link for customers to immediately purchase the content. Furthermore, the JAVA-version of MusicID stores previous ID's, allowing users to retrieve the information whenever they feel the need or use their ID list as future playlists. It also has an "easy to use interface" for texting matched songs to other customers, which then links those customers directly to the IDs and content, if available. The cost for the JAVA version of MusicID is $6.99 per month for unlimited IDs.

The JAVA application is currently available on the Nokia 6682 and will be available on other handsets in the near future.

Cingular worked with Shazam Entertainment, the London-based pioneering audio technology company, and Musicphone, who offers innovative mobile entertainment services, to deliver MusicID. In keeping with Cingular's longstanding Be Sensible campaign, the company encourages consumers not to use this service while driving. For more information on MusicID, visit www.rucingular.com/musicid.

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 54.1 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc., formerly SBC Communications Inc., (NYSE:T), and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVER(TM) network -- and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(R), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at www.cingular.com. Get Cingular Wireless press releases e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com/

Source: Cingular Wireless

CONTACT: Kelleigh Scott Beal of Cingular Wireless, +1-404-236-6321, or
kelleigh.scott@cingular.com

Web site: http://www.rucingular.com/musicid
http://www.cingular.com/
http://cingular.mediaroom.com/

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