| With so much talk about the convergence of mobile | | | | support from manufacturers and the lack of available |
| phones and mp3 players in today's market, are we | | | | content from your mobile phone. The ipod comes with |
| finally in a position where you only need one device | | | | itunes, a very sophisticated piece of software with a |
| instead of 2? This article attempts to explore benefits | | | | vast library of podcasts, music and even tv shows |
| and drawbacks of having separate or combined | | | | and films. This kind of support is simply not available to |
| mobile phone and music devices, in an ever more | | | | the average mobile phone user. However Nokia is |
| competitive world. | | | | fighting back with its planned intention to release a |
| With the introduction of the Nokia N81 and Sony | | | | music download platform this year, offering music |
| Ericsson W960i, music players on mobile phones have | | | | lovers the chance to download tracks direct to their |
| become ever more sophisticated. Gone are the days | | | | mobile phone. The key to Nokia's success will be in the |
| where the ipod was the only mp3 device worth | | | | pricing model they choose to adopt. Only time will tell if |
| having. Capacity has increased as has the sound | | | | they get this right. |
| quality, to a point where you can now store more than | | | | Overall the technology for mp3 mobile phone devices |
| enough music and podcasts on your mobile phone to | | | | is certainly available. Handsets such as the Nokia N81 |
| last you for days. At the time of writing the music | | | | and Sony Ericsson W960i prove this. What remains to |
| focussed phones can store approximately 8gb of | | | | be seen is whether or not the manufacturers can |
| music, a quantity that is set to increase over the | | | | support these devices with a large enough catalogue |
| coming year. | | | | of data that is cost effective for the end user. That is |
| The downside to the mp3 mobile phones is the lack of | | | | the challenge they face. |