Despite modern mobiles offering a wealth of features over and above your basic calling and texting, UK users seem reluctant to embrace their potential. AppTrigger, a mobile application and service delivery company, recently published figures that showed 57 percent of UK consumers use their mobiles in exactly the same way as they did in 2003, despite the fact that 74 percent agree that the facilities on offer have improved.

Services such as mobile music downloads are undoubtedly going to be pushed quite hard over the coming year though; US artist Timbaland recently announced a world first deal with Verizon Wireless to release his new album on a one-track-per-month basis specifically under mobile distribution.

The biggest evidence yet that mobile downloads could be the way forward for the music industry comes in the form of a new partnership in the UK between Sony Ericsson, O2 and music download service Napster. Those with compatible devices will be able to search Napster's five million strong catalogue, receive recommendations based on previous activity and download songs directly to a phone.

Unfortunately we've received word that the pricing strategy here seems particularly uncompetitive. At 99p per song (or £4 for five songs) we wouldn't expect any kind of market to be revolutionised until the industries in question manage to find a way to offer this sort of digital media to the consumer at a price that will encourage more widespread adoption.

Tags: napster verizon wireless sony ericsson music download music industry android ios iphone