Optus today announced that it has signed an agreement with Universal Music Australia to provide original music content to its Mobile Music service in Optus Zoo.

The Universal Music Group provides the world's largest catalogue of recorded music including artists such as U2, Nelly, Bob Marley, Eminem and 50 Cent, as well as local Australian artists including Powderfinger, Grinspoon and Spiderbait.

"Convergence of the mobile, computer and music devices is an exciting new trend," Stuart Tucker, Marketing Director Optus Mobile said.

"With the signing of Universal Music Australia and our current partnership with MTV Mobile on Optus Zoo, we are well positioned to offer our customers a comprehensive and interactive service.

"This announcement also means we now offer all our customers, both pre-paid and post-paid, another option for purchasing music - the convenience of billing via their Optus mobile account.

"Optus is a leading multimedia brand for youth and partnering with Universal Music Group is a perfect fit to meet the needs of our customers," he said.

Universal Music Group is a market leader in exploring new digital distribution methods, making content available with more user-friendly rules than any of its competitors whilst offering consumers a viable, legitimate and copy-protected source of online music.

"We are excited to be sharing our leading artists and music with Optus customers wherever and whenever they want it," said Thomas Enright, Director of New Media, Universal Music Australia.

"Universal Music Group has a strong presence in music licensing and developing online music services. "Optus Zoo is a fantastic and ideal vehicle for mobile music as it ensures that customers have the best experience possible and everyone involved in creating the music including artists, songwriters and producers are properly rewarded for their efforts," he said.

For more information visit: www.optus.com.au/zoo

Media contact:
Tracy Monkman
Optus Corporate Affairs
Phone: +61 2 9342 5302

Current Optus Zoo Arcade sites:

SonyEricsson
Siemens
triple j
ARIA - Ringtones
Australian Swimsuit Edition
ZULU
Entertainment4U
Music4U
Mobile Wallpapers
ninemsn
Findmap
Weathernews
Yahoo!
MyMoto
Urban Zone
Fun Zone
Astrozone
Screen Names
MobileTones
Zulu
M-Cards
Webw@lkers
Soundbuzz
Fonestarz
MobileBabes
Mobu
MobileActive
Mobilegames
Dock M - Content - WAP
Pandamo

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group (UMG) is the world's leading music company. Its global operations encompass the development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of recorded music through a network of subsidiaries, joint ventures and licensees in 71 countries, representing 98% of the global music market. UMG's businesses also include music publishing, and mail order music/video clubs. Universal Music International is the division that manages UMG's businesses in countries outside of North America. UMG is the global market leader and the leader in 65% of the markets where it operates including the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Canada, Italy and Australia. With over 10,700 employees worldwide, UMG leads the music industry in global sales with an estimated worldwide market share in 2003 of 23.6%.

Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Record Company, Deutsche Grammophon, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Records Group, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Strategic Marketing and Commercial Affairs (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technology division.

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.