Vodafone is marking the launch of DRM-free downloads on its UK network by designating 5th June as 'Free Music Friday'. Eight free music tracks will be available to Vodafone customers tomorrow.

Vodafone’s decision to remove Digital Rights Management from downloads on the Vodafone Music Store means that customers can copy music between their music phones, PCs and MP3 players (subject to standard copyright rules, naturally). 350,000 unlocked tracks will initially be available, with over a million planned by the end of the summer. Prices for downloads cost from 49p per track and £7.99 per album. Customers who’ve previously bought DRM-locked music will be able to download the unlocked tracks free.

Last month we talked about the UK’s nigh-on-100% increase in mobile advertising spending. That enthusiasm was then tempered slightly when Juniper Research warned that ad-funded music services could be hit by the global downturn in advertising spend. However, Juniper Research is now cheering us again with news that global spending on mobile advertising is expected to increase to $5.7 billion by 2014. It says there’s currently a stronger focus on mobile advertising because it makes it easier for brands to engage directly with consumers – although it points out that spending on mobile advertising is just a small proportion of total ad spend.

A survey from networking site Habbo Hotel suggests that Nokia’s popularity is fading. 21% of teenagers across 30 countries named Nokia as their favourite mobile brand, which is down from 29% eighteen months ago, although Nokia has maintained its position as the most popular teen mobile brand. Sony Ericsson slipped three percentage points to 18%, remaining in second place overall, while Motorola dropped from third to sixth after being overtaken by Samsung, LG and Apple.