Verizon Wireless unveiled its long-awaited V Cast music service, which will let customers download songs to phones or PCs, in a model based on Apple's super-hot iPod/iTunes combination. Verizon Wireless is working with Microsoft, whose software lets wireless phones tie in to PCs. The companies said users will be able to pick from a million-song archive this spring, with 500,000 titles available Jan. 16 when the service goes live. “Get ready for entertainment's next big wireless revolution,” Verizon Wireless CEO Denny Strigl said at a press conference Thurs. “Mobile music is predicted to be a $4 billion industry for the U.S. in 4 years and it's not because we built the capability and expect that they will come, but people want it,” he said. Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg touted V Cast music in his Consumer Electronics Show keynote Thurs. in Las Vegas. “I bet if I asked you what 3 things you always pick up as you're leaving the house, most of you would say the same thing: Keys, wallet or purse, cellphone,” he said.nnIt remains to be seen whether music downloads will be the “killer app” pushing Verizon Wireless ahead of its peers in the competitive wireless sector, analysts said. Verizon Wireless is the 2nd major U.S. wireless carrier to offer straight-to-phone music downloads. Last year Sprint Nextel unveiled a smaller-scale offering. Donna Jaeger, analyst with Janco Partners, said early signs are subscribers aren't willing to pay $2.50 per song, as Sprint charges. “The key is going to be pricing,” she said. “Apple has shown that people will pay 99 cents... maybe for a great hit people will pay a little more than 99 cents.” Verizon downloads will cost 99 cents per song to PCs and $1.99 directly to handsets, closer in price to Apple’s iTunes. Verizon has signed Warner Music Group, EMI Music, Universal and Sony/BMG, plus indie provider The Orchard, to fill out its library.
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