RealNetworks, MTV Networks and Verizon Wireless today announced plans for a new rhapsody service, accessible via PC, MP3 player or mobile phone. The aim is to merge RealNetworks' Rhapsody service with MTV's URGE music service and Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music. The new service will be run by a new company to be called Rhapsody America.

The aim, of course, is to launch a direct attack on iTunes.

"Today's announcements represent a sea-change in the digital music market," says RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser. "By partnering with MTV Networks, home of the most storied brands in music history, and the market's leading wireless company, Verizon Wireless, we'll make Rhapsody the premier digital music service that delivers great music to millions of consumers whenever and wherever they want."

As CrunchGear's Doug Aamoth explains, "The basic idea is that former Urge subscribers, current V CAST subscribers, and current Rhapsody subscribers will now all be part of the Rhapsody software. If you download a song using V CAST, it'll show up on your PC when you use Rhapsody. Likewise, you can send Rhapsody songs to your Verizon phone. This functionality will be rolled out over the coming months."

And paidContent.org's David Kaplan notes, "For Q3, Real expects the new entity to generate $500,000 in revenue, and about $2- to $3 million for the remainder of the year."

More here from SFGate ... more here from the New York Times ... more here from InformationWeek ... more here from Gizmodo ... and the press release is here.