7digital launches BlackBerry app

Digital music store 7digital has launched an app that will let owners of BlackBerry handsets buy and listen to millions of tracks on the move.

The 7digital app for BlackBerrys is free to download and provides access to the high-quality MP3 format music from the company's catalogue of around eight million tracks, which all come free of DRM (digital rights management) anti-piracy technology.

When on the move, you can use mobile networks to download lower quality versions of tracks, which will be automatically upgraded to the high-quality 320Kbps MP3 format when you are within range of a Wi-Fi network.

Ben Drury, chief executive of 7digital said: "We're excited to be bringing high-quality MP3 over-the-air downloads to the BlackBerry platform. The ability to buy tracks and albums on the move, or on impulse, is what the consumer wants."

Though 7digital has a variable pricing model, the standard price for an individual track on the site is 79p and the standard album cost is £7.99.

The app is bound to draw comparisons with Spotify's mobile app, but there are a few key differences.

Firstly, the 7digital app is free to download and use - you pay for the individual tracks, whereas Spotify requires a £10 monthly payment and if you don't keep up with payments you lose access to your playlists.

The 7digital tracks are yours to keep and as BlackBerry devices have ports for removable storage you can keep your music on a memory card, which you can swap between other devices.

The 7digital app also lets you stream music to other devices using Bluetooth technology and there is no need to back up your collection, said the company, as it is all stored in the cloud as well.

Another key difference between 7digital's BlackBerry app and the Spotify iPhone app is that it can run in the background, meaning you can get on with other tasks while listening to music. The Spotify iPhone app has to be closed down if you wish to send a text, compose an email or surf the web.

The app is compatible with the BlackBerry Bold, BlackBerry Curve 8900, BlackBerry Tour, BlackBerry Curve 8520 and BlackBerry Storm handsets.