Napster to offer ringtones

Music websites Napster Inc and Dwango Wireless have signed a pact to offer music ringtones in a new portal.

Online music service Napster Inc and Dwango Wireless on Monday unveiled a pact to offer music ringtones and other features in a new service that Napster hopes will widen its reach.

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The mobile phone service, called Napstertones, allows users to download ringtones made from popular songs for $1.99 to $2.99, and is the first ringtone offering provided by an online music download or subscription service, Napster officials said.

Napstertones is now available to wireless subscribers of the Cingular and T-Mobile systems, giving Napster access to nearly 70 million users of those networks in the United States.

"Napster's vision is to make all of our massive (content) library available to our customers. Certainly our entry into music ringtones is a continuing development to our overall plan," said Chief Executive Officer Chris Gorog.

Music websites Napster Inc and Dwango Wireless have signed a pact to offer music ringtones in a new portal.

He added that the widely recognized Napster brand has given it an advantage against some rivals for attracting new users.

"We expect to see the same thing in ringtones," Gorog said.

Gorog declined to give financial details, but said the companies will share revenues derived from the downloads.

The service also is expected to roll out in Canada with Rogers Wireless Communications Inc. and Fido in June, and Napster is working with other US cell phone services to expand Napstertones even more broadly during this upcoming summer.

Other features available for download include artist "shoutouts" and wallpapers featuring the Napster Kitty logo.

Dwango provides the wireless technology. Cingular Wireless is a joint venture of SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp., and T-Mobile USA is part of German carrier Deutsche Telekom AG.