Nokia to launch music download service in China

Nokia will launch its music download service in China, the world's largest mobile market, looking to emerging markets to invigorate the struggling service that competes with Apple's iTunes.

The world's top cell phone maker will offer music from major labels and a number of independents as part of the China launch for its Comes with Music service, tailored for downloads to cell phones and PCs, the company said on Thursday.

In late 2008, Nokia unveiled the service in Britain -- seen as the acid test market for new mobile services in Europe -- but it has lacked operator support and gained little traction in developed markets since then.

Earlier this year, Niklas Savander, head of Nokia services, told Reuters the offering would focus increasingly on emerging markets.

With more than 700 million subscribers, China is the world's biggest mobile market by users, but rampant piracy in the country has kept most major music labels and movie makers from realizing significant revenue there, despite the market's huge potential.