Mobile devices Toolkit

Nokia handset lures karaoke fans

Staff, CNETAsia CNET News.com

Published: 01 Sep 2003 10:00 BST

Nokia thinks that users in karaoke-crazy parts of Asia will want to sing here, there and everywhere.

The telecom-equipment giant has worked with Japanese videogame machine maker Taito to provide cellphone handsets with karaoke, reported Nikkei Electronics News.

The technology provided by the Japanese firm enables handheld phones to play karaoke music. To cue singers, the lyrics change colour as they unfold across the screen with the progress of the song, said the report.

The Japanese firm has already equipped Nokia's latest MP3-playing 3300 phone with its own lyric-display technology, and will start distributing karaoke music on a full scale for the phones in October. The Finnish firm has begun sales of the 3300 model in Asia.

Specially encoded karaoke-enabled songs can be downloaded into the phone through Nokia Web sites via WAP or GPRS. Nokia has started promoting Mobile Karaoke function of the 3300 phone with in Hong Kong with pop stars Elva Xiao and BOY'Z.

Taito has revealed plans to sell the software to other companies. This will enable operators to create and distribute karaoke music, joining other mobile downloadables such as games and ring tones.

The Mobile Karaoke feature is available only in selected markets in Asia Pacific.