Napster, an online music company and Ericsson, a telecommunications equipment maker in Sweden have joined hands to provide a music service that would allow users to download music directly to their mobile phones.

According to the companies, this is a logical step in providing music to every possible medium. In addition to it being a logical strategy, it’s just as much a competitive one as well. Industry reports suggested that Napster and Ericsson’s move comes as a competitive strategy after headset makers, mobile phone makers and even Apple’s iTunes have partnered with companies to provide music to their mobile platform as well.

Furthermore, mobile phone providers are worried as such devices would let users download music directly to their phones via the computer instead of paying phone providers to download the music by mobile networks.

Ericsson currently provides text messaging and voice mail services to mobile phone providers.

On the opposite side, the RIAA is encouraging such movement in the industry, as it would further bring in sales revenue, which would help compensate for direct CD sales that are lost due to piracy.

Napster and Ericsson commented that such a strategy is beneficial to both the operator and the provider.

In direct competition, Motorola is readying an Apple iTunes compatible phone that would let users download music from the iTunes music store. Motorola’s phone is expected to debut sometime this summer. Sony Ericsson said its music phone, branded under the Walkman brand, would launch this week as well.

The Napster and Ericsson’s mobile service is expected to go live within the next 12 months in Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America. Users would have the option to upload songs to their mobile phones either via the computer or over a mobile network.