Universal Music expands its mobile reach with SendMe
The string of digital music pacts continued Tuesday as Universal and SendMe Mobile announced a pact that will bring the label's music to the mobile content provider's service.
For the first time, tracks, ringtones, and content would be made available to users of SendMe's service. Acts such as 50 Cent, Fall Out Boy, Fergie, Kanye West, Rihanna, and U2 are slated to appear.
SendMe works on all the major carriers including AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and T-Mobile. In addition, customers of Cellular One, Alltel, and Boost Mobile can also download content from the provider.
"The company has created a unique mobile media platform that provides fans an exciting way to discover and enjoy music wherever and whenever they want," UMG eLabs chief Rio Caraeff said in a statement.
A fairly new name on the scene, SendMe was founded in June 2006 by three friends with the goal of helping to advance mobile entertainment. Although user data is not immediately available, web analytics firm estimates about 150,000 unique users visit the site each month.
No doubt, a deal with Universal will help grow those numbers. It's effect was immediately apparent: many of its artists have already made it into the service's top ten most downloaded tracks as of midday Wednesday.