Hewlett-Packard extends music service to Southeast Asia

The free service, which will be available in 18 countries across South and Southeast Asia from 28 November, gives HP customers access to Universal’s music library. The service allows 1,120 songs to be downloaded during a 12-month period, 120 of which can be downloaded for indefinite ownership. The rest will be available with a validity of one year.

The service will specifically be available in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand.

According to the company, this is the first music-service collaboration between Universal Music and HP in Southeast Asia. “Consumers are increasingly streaming and storing their favourite music files on their PC,” said Dennis Mark, VP of marketing for HP Personal Systems Group for Asia-Pacific and Japan. “Our partnership with Universal Music will amplify consumers’ entertainment gratification and make their notebook a one-stop shop for all their multimedia needs.”

HP’s expansion into the sector mirrors similar services launched in the region to attract young consumers. This year, Nokia rolled out its Comes With Music platform in the region. Motorola’s MotoMusic, which enjoyed success in China after its 2006 debut but was slower to gain ground elsewhere in the region, also launched in Singapore last year. That service closed down in June.

HP initially launched this service in other Asia-Pacific markets last month.