China's second largest mobile carrier has begun testing a music download service, reports The Globe & Mail.

China Unicom has rolled out the test with 23 record companies on board. The Xuan Qu music service gives users the ability to download songs to their phones for between 39 and 66 cents a pop.

Music cannot be moved to other phones or to the user's computer. The trial is expected to run through September, when adjustments will be made and another trial begins.

As competition for phone service increases and drives prices down, companies are looking for alternate, data-driven revenue streams.