Chris Gilmer , Monday, October 31st, 2005

Nokia and music label EMI have begun work on a project to let coffee shop customers listen to music sent to their phone via Bluetooth.

Cell phone developer Nokia, along with innovative music label EMI are on their way to developing a project to let listeners sample music in certain locations via the Bluetooth technology. As well as music being transferred via Bluetooth, customers will be able to get hold of ringtones, wallpaper, video clips and vouchers.

The first free tests of the service will be in six coffee shops and music stores in Helsinki, Finland. The trials will take place in select Robert’s Coffee cafes in Helsinki and certain FreeRecordShop music stores in the city.

The trial service, presently called bFree, will be free for those taking part. Nokia and EMI expect to charge in the future for access to the playlists if a commercial system is rolled out.

EMI has yet to say which artists will be available on the trial playlists. EMI represents such artists as Louis Armstrong, Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Daft Punk, Eazy-e, Perry Farrell, Depeche Mode, MC Hammer, N.E.R.D., N.W.A, Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, Radiohead, The Rolling Stones, Spice Girls, Gorillaz.

The announcement comes as many phone makers seek to turn handsets into devices capable of doing much more than help people make and take calls. Including digital picture cameras, digital video cameras, mobile ringtone mixers, and video game machine.

Many phones now have a radio onboard, come with memory cards and operators offer customers the chance to download tracks. Dedicated music-playing phones have been produced by Motorola and Sony.

Many new mobile phones already use Bluetooth to connect their mobile handset to a bluetooth activated headset so they can talk to callers hands-free. Bluetooth enabled mobile phones are also used to connect phone to a PC or to swap pictures and other information without wires attached. Auto manufactures have also moved on to the circuit offering Bluetooth extentions for automobiles.