Big handset company Sony-Ericsson is launching its own music store following about a billion other companies into the business of selling digital songs to owners of portable multimedia devices. That list is dominated by Apple’s (AAPL) iTunes, and includes offerings from Nokia (NOK) and Amazon (AMZN).

According to The Wall Street Journal, Sony-Ericsson "announced deals with 10 record labels, including Sony BMG, Warner Music Group Corp. and EMI Group Ltd." Because some of the content comes from emerging markets the premise for the service is clever. The company’s handsets sold in those geographic areas will have some content to go with them.

That is, if Apple has not gotten there first.

Douglas A. McIntyre