AT&T has announced its first Napster-enabled phone, the SLM by Samsung, will be reaching consumers on November 23, just in time for the end-of-year holiday buying season. The clamshell-style phone also offers a 2 megapixel camera, 512 MB of onboard memory, a 176 by 220-pixel internal display, Bluetooth wireless networking, microSD storage for music libraries and photos, and advanced messaging option. And, of course, the phone connects to Napster Mobile, enabling users to sample, purchase, and download songs from Napster’s library of 5 million tracks. The SLM is the first phone from AT&T to leverage the company’s renewed partnership with Napster, announced last month.
"The SLM by Samsung represents the best collection thus far of our music, multimedia and messaging services—just in time for the holidays," said AT&T’s VP of product development Carlton Hill. "Gift-givers will want to slide this slim device into stockings all season."
SLM users will be able to buy songs via Napster on an a la carte basis for $1.99 each, along with the ability to download five tracks per month with the Napster Mobile Five Track Pack option for $7.49—Five Track Pack customers get their first five tracks for free. But the SLM doesn’t just support Napster: customers can also tap into XM Radio Mobile, Pandora, and the MusicID song-recognition service.
The SLM is also the first phone from AT&T to support AT&T’s mobile banking application, which currently offers banking capabilities for Wachovia and SunTrust Banks customers.
AT&T is pricing the SLM at $149, although that price reflects a $50 mail-in rebate and a two year service contract.
