Telstra takes on Spotify with unmetered MOG

Keen to try an all-you-can-eat music subscription service? You already have a lot to choose from, but now Telstra has joined up with yet another service, this one offering free mobile downloads when you have a Telstra mobile connection.

For Telstra’s own music subscription service, the company has teamed up with MOG, a music on-demand service from America with support for web browsers and apps on iPad, iPhone, and Android devices.

MOG, available on the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Previously unavailable in Australia due to licensing restrictions, the partnership with Telstra means MOG’s services have opened up to all Australians, offering a $6.99 per month PC service or $11.99 monthly mobile service, offering up to 16 million tracks – and growing – to customers.

“More Australians are accessing music digitally than ever before, and Telstra’s research indicates the number one way Australians are listening to music is via their MP3 player or smartphone,” said Adam Good, Telstra’s Director of Digital Media and Content.

“Telstra’s research also found that 50 per cent of Australians haven’t bought a CD from a record store in the last year with 75 per cent of people saying it’s due to the cost of CDs or citing constantly changing music taste as the reason.”

A streaming media service gets around the $20 and $30 price CDs often cost, supplying an unlimited amount of music for half the price of a compact disc monthly.

With so many tracks on offer, services like this – including Spotify and Rdio – are expected to assist in the fight against music piracy.

“What we know without doubt from a music-lovers point of view is that we live in extremely fortunate times indeed,” said Clare Bowditch, Australian musician and ARIA award winner.

“There are still many questions to be answered and much to learn about the way online music subscription will affect and change how we listen to and appreciate music. At this stage, the early signs for music-makers themselves look generally positive because music subscription offers an attractive alternative to music-piracy and a new way of exposure for artists.”

Customers with a Telstra mobile account also receive the music with no extra data charges, meaning that anyone with a current Telstra mobile will receive songs through the network unmetered.