Microsoft to acquire Musiwave

The acquisition would bring together Musiwave's relationships with music labels, device makers, and mobile operators and Microsoft's Connected Entertainment technologies and services

In a bid to deliver mobile entertainment to consumers, Microsoft is planning to acquire 'Musiwave', a leading provider of mobile music entertainment services to operators and media companies.

The acquisition would bring together Musiwave's relationships with music labels, device makers, and mobile operators and Microsoft's Connected Entertainment technologies and services, including Windows Mobile, Zune, MSN, and Windows Live.

'Musiwave' offers software that allows mobile operators to deliver self-branded music applications to their subscribers, including full length song-over-the-air downloads, ring tones, ring-back tones, and customized play lists.

Microsoft believes that bringing 'Musiwave' on board will provide them an opportunity to explore new areas in the mobile space that were previously untapped, as well as showcase the power of software plus services.

This becomes even more important considering the pace at which the mobile music device market is growing today. According to technology research firm Ovum, by 2010, nearly 1,106 million mobile music phones will be shipped all over the world.

At present, Microsoft's technology runs on a variety of mobile platforms, and is featured on more than 140 mobile phones made by nearly 50 handset-makers.

Source: Techtree.com