Vodafone has licensed Universal Music Group's music and video content catalogue, allowing the mobile phone network to offer songs as audio downloads, video downloads and streams, and ringtones.

The "strategic alliance" doesn't encompass Universal's entire catalogue, at least not initially - only some 100,000 songs will be offered in the first instance. The tracks will be made available on Vodafone's Live! service "within a matter of weeks", the carrier said.

However, Vodafone told The Register the track numbers will grow as new releases and further back-catalogue items are added to the list.

Vodafone said the additions will take the size of its own digital music download catalogue to over 600,000 tracks. The carrier has deals in place with the other three majors - EMI, Sony BMG and Warner - and a number of key indie labels.

The deal is a global one, paving the way for the provision of Universal content across all the geographies in which Vodafone operates. It also lays the ground for future "music and related areas" partnerships, as both companies leverage each others' content and services to promote their own offerings. ®