Record Labels Sell Music Over Cell Phones

Universal Music Group, a unit of the French Vivendi Universal, says it has entered into an alliance to sell a music-oriented cell phone service.

The phones will make it easier to download snippets of songs — and soon entire songs — said Universal Music Group’s strategic partner, Single Touch Interactive, reported the New York Times Saturday.

The music-oriented phone service comes as the record labels and cellular carriers try to profit from selling music over cell phone and mobile devices.

Selling ring tones and short clips of songs — typically for $1.50 to $3 a download — has turned into a multi-million business, the Times said.