Schmidt-Holtz added that Sony BMG is in talks with other major music distributors, and said the company may also partner with mobile network operators. The service would offer a flat-rate fee of $9 to $12 per month for unlimited access to the label's entire music catalogue, in a format compatible with all portable players, including the iPod.

Schmidt-Holtz also told the German paper that the service may also allow subscribers to "keep some songs indefinitely, that they would own them even after the subscription expired." 

Currently Sony is working on several new devices that will allow consumers to download content that allows them to play games watch movies or listen to music. The devices that are built around several hard drive formats including flash memory will have fast Cell processors and be able to be linked to screens both wirelessly and via an IP port.

Related Links:

http://snipurl.com/22l3b (AP)

http://www.sonybmg.com