Gigaboxx, the mobile music download platform targeting artists and record companies who want to set up shop to sell direct to fans, has opened in public beta.
The UK service, which was first outed in April at GeeknRolla, has a particular emphasis on live events – hence the mobile component – offering artists a “suite of marketing tools”, including their own store URL, QR codes and a SMS reply service that they can feature in promotional material and share on social networks. Additionally, Gigaboxx offers local Wifi and Bluetooth solutions that can be used at a live gig to beam a link to the artist’s download store direct to the audience’s mobile phones. Perfect for fans getting caught up in the moment.
Setting up a mobile web-based download store (preferable to mobile apps in this context, says Gigaboxx) is done via an online wizard. The artist or record label can then add tracks, videos, gig listings and other content, which can easily be tailored to a particular audience or event.
Gigaboxx is using the mobile payments standard Payforit to handle transactions. That’s smart since it means that downloads are billed direct to a fan’s mobile phone bill, or deducted from their pay-as-you-go (pre-pay) credit. Also sensible is that tracks purchased can optionally be downloaded later via the desktop web rather than mobile.
The service costs £14.95 per month on a 30 day rolling contract, and as well as the mobile store itself, provides realtime analytics, enabling bands to garner “fans’ behavioural patterns”. That’s rock ‘n’ roll.