Vodafone and RealNetworks have announced a multi-year global partnership to support Vodafone's music services across Europe.

The agreement will make RealNetworks' mobile music services, including Internet radio-style streaming music and the ability to purchase and download full songs, available to Vodafone customers in Europe. These services are available today from Vodafone in Germany, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Romania and the UK. The Internet radio-style streaming music service is available in France.

These services are currently provided to Vodafone by Sony NetServices, a joint venture of Sony DADC and Sony Europe that was acquired by RealNetworks.

The Sony NetServices technology center and infrastructure is based in Salzburg, Austria, and will continue to support delivery of music services to Vodafone customers.

With the addition of Vodafone as a customer, RealNetworks now has 12 music on demand customers with more than 196 million mobile subscribers in 11 countries. Real's Technology and Product Solutions division provides services on an ASP basis to more than 75 communications carriers in 37 countries worldwide.

Vodafone music services are available on Vodafone live!, giving customers access to a range of entertainment services such as TV, music, games, ringtones, news, sports and information; as well as easy access to other Internet services on mobile handsets.