November 20, 2008

By By Leila Cobo, Miami

In an effort to spur music sales during the holiday season, Sony BMG in Colombia and Colombian wireless carrier Comcel have launched a strategic alliance dubbed "Minutos Comcel" (Comcel Minutes), that gives free calling cards to customers who purchase Sony BMG CDs.

Customers who purchase any of 15 Sony BMG titles will be able to redeem a 20 minute calling card with a PIN number and will also enter into a contest to win one of 10 Sony Ericsson Walkman W760 phones.

In Colombia, the preferred method of cellphone payment is by purchasing prepaid minutes.

As an additional incentive, buyers will get a 15% discount off any of the CDs or DVDs included in the promotion by presenting a Comcel phone bill or Comcel card. The Minutos Comcel promotion runs from Nov. 15 through Jan 31, 2009 or until all 150,000 PIN numbers are allotted.

Some of the titles included in the promotion are Il Divo's "The Promise," and "El Original," by Colombian artist Silvestre Dangond.

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