Apple iPad to offer new mobile broadband option

Almost half a million Vodafone customers are accessing the latest chart toppers and classic hits via their handsets.

The mobile phone company has announced its number of subscribers to the service recently passed the 450,000 mark – all of whom can choose from a selection of more than two million songs.

Last year Vodafone signed deals with four of the music industry’s leading record labels, allowing tracks by their artists to be heard at any time by its customers.

Signing up to the service with Vodafone is an option for all mobile phone users with the network – with a typical tariff of about €5 (£4.30) a month for ten songs or larger bundles both available.

Lee Epting, director of content at Vodafone internet services, said: "We expect to see continued growth in our music service subscriptions driven by the increase in smartphone use, with their worry-free data tariffs and great value add-ons such as music bundles."

The figures revealed by Vodafone mean it is now in possession of the largest customer base of any music subscription provider in Europe, with 100,000 joining in December alone.

Mr Epting added that the statistics prove Vodafone "is starting to prove its significance of its place in the music industry".

One mobile which could be ideal for playing music from the service is Apple’s iPhone, which earlier this month went on sale via Vodafone for the first time.

Vodafone joined O2, Orange and Tesco as one of only four official stockists of the popular handset.