MUMBAI: Competing against downloading sites like Apple's iTunes, mobile handset giant Nokia will let consumers download millions of songs directly onto their PCs and Macs or straight onto their phones via mobile airwaves.

Nokia taking aim at striking the Apple's dominance in the digital music business has started its online music store operations in Australia allowing millions of audio downloads from local and overseas artistes.

Individual tracks will cost $1.70 each, one cent more than Apple's iTunes price of $1.69, while albums will cost at least $17.00.The Nokia Music Store is also offering a monthly subscription for PC users to stream an unlimited number of full length tracks for $10 per month.

Reportedly, all tracks will include digital rights management (DRM) encoding, preventing its transfer to other MP3 devices, including iPods. DRM-free MP3 tracks may be available in the future.

Apparently, Nokia music store has tied up with three of the four major labels (Sony BMG, EMI and Universal) which include artists such as Powderfinger, Silverchair, Lior, Cut Copy, Kisschasey and Kasey Chambers. Discussions are currently on with Warner Music.

Additionally, the online store is also promising exclusive tracks from The John Butler Trio, Pete Murray and Kate Miller-Heidke as well celebrity artiste like rocker Jimmy Barnes.

Nokia Australia General Manager Shaun Colligan said in a report, "Not only we do we have millions of tracks available for consumers, but we have something for everyone, whatever their music tastes."

Users will be able to access the Nokia Music Store via their personal computer (PC) or a select range of Nokia phones including the Nokia N95 8GB, Nokia N81 8GB and the N82.Owners of the latest Xpress Music phones, Nokia 5610 and Nokia 5310, will be able to sync tracks from their PC using Windows Media Player 11.
Nokia Music Stores are also available in Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands and Singapore.