Europe : Vodafone and Sony Music Entertainment today announced the world's largest single mobile operator/music company content distribution agreement.

The deal calls for music content from hundreds of Sony Music artists to be provided to Vodafone and its Partners' customers around the world.

"Vodafone live! is making the mobile a personalised entertainment device that customers are using to access services such as music on the move," said Guy Laurence, Global Marketing Director at Vodafone Global Products and Content Services. "Vodafone has always offered its customers a rich catalogue of ringtones and music content, and this latest agreement with Sony Music Entertainment is key in establishing Vodafone as the home of mobile music content globally as we enter the enhanced multimedia world of Vodafone live! with 3G services."

Under the terms of the agreement, Sony Music Entertainment will initially* provide Vodafone with a wide range of content encompassing global and local artists, which will include real music ringtones, polyphonic ringtones, artist images, video streaming and short video downloads. International Sony Music artists including AC/DC, Anastacia, Incubus, Nas, Sertab, Jessica Simpson and Train will have their content featured on Vodafone live!

"With the range and depth of its services, Vodafone is a key strategic partner for Sony Music Entertainment as we build on our leadership role in the mobile arena," commented Thomas Gewecke, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Sony Music Digital Services. "Working closely with Vodafone, we'll be able to extend the range of our artists and their music, which will enable them to enjoy even closer relationships with their fans around the world."

In addition to the global music content which will be distributed across multiple markets, the companies intend to feature a series of special National Artist Showcases that will include, among others; Delta Goodrem in Australia, Big Brovaz in the UK, and Paola and Chiara in Italy. The Artist Showcase concept -- first introduced through Vodafone live! -- has quickly become recognised as an effective and innovative way to link artists to audiences by providing fans with their favorite music 24/7, then maximising the experience with additional customised content relating to a specific artist.

*Sony Music Entertainment content will initially be available in 15 countries, with additional territories being introduced at a later date.

(c) Vodafone Group 2004. Vodafone and Vodafone live! are trade marks of the Vodafone Group. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trade marks of their respective owners.

About Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (SMEI) is a leading global recording company. The three divisions of SMEI are: Sony Music (the U.S. recording company comprised of Automatic Productions, Columbia Records Group, Epic Records, Sony Music Nashville, Legacy Recordings, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony Disc Manufacturing, Sony Music Distribution, Sony Music Custom Marketing Group, Sony Music Studios, and Sony Wonder); Sony Music International (active in over 67 countries through its network of wholly owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and licensees); and Sony Classical, which includes the Sony Classical Film and Video division.

About Vodafone
Vodafone is the world's largest mobile community, with equity interests in 26 countries and Partner Networks in a further 13 countries, serving over 130 million proportionate customers.

Vodafone's global consumer service offering, Vodafone live!, opens up a world of mobile colour communication, bringing news, information, e-mail, chat, location-based services, games and shopping to customers' mobile devices.