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YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Microsoft working on new Spotify-like service on Xbox, Windows and smartphones

    By Mike Flacy | Digital Trends – Sat, Feb 18, 2012

    As reported this week by CNET, Microsoft is apparently chatting with several record labels regarding the development of a music application that would be more similar to Pandora, Spotify, Rdio, MOG and other streaming music, subscription services than the Zune Music Pass. Conceptually, Microsoft would brand this service with the Xbox Live name rather than the failed Zune brand name and launch the application on the Xbox 360, Windows smartphones and the upcoming revision of the Windows operating system. According to CNET’s sources, specifics regarding how the service would deliver music to consumers in addition to how much the music industry would get paid from any potential subscription fees haven’t been finalized. 

    Microsoft’s current foray into providing music for customers is the Zune Music Pass, a similar service that already allows users to pay $9.99 a month to get access to million of songs on the Xbox 360, Windows phones and PCs. It’s possible that Microsoft is simply renegotiating to reduce the cost of the Zune pass to provide a free version for users that would limit the amount of time they could listen to music each month across several platforms.

    During late September 2011, Microsoft eliminated the plan that offered new users of the Zune Music Pass 10 song downloads a month in order to reduce the price of the monthly plan from $14.99 to $9.99. However, current subscribers could continue with the more expensive plan and keep downloading 10 songs a month. 

    Using the Zune Music Pass on the Xbox 360 also requires Xbox Live Gold service which can be purchased by a monthly or yearly fee. In an attempt to align more closely with Spotify, Microsoft could simply remove that stipulation for Xbox Live users or include music streaming as an included feature of Xbox Live Gold without requiring an additional subscription fee each month. Microsoft may also expand the new  application to launch on other manufacturer platforms, a limitation that has restricted how effectively Microsoft can compete against Apple’s iTunes and Google Music on mobile. Microsoft’s own attempt at producing a portable music player collapsed last year after the company ended production of the failing Zune HD.

    This article was originally posted on Digital Trends

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    9 comments

    • Anonymous
      Anonymous  •  3 mths ago
      I can listen to any music I want with Spotify free. If Microsoft can't match that, then they will fail.
    • Ohnoes
      Ohnoes  •  Carbondale, Illinois  •  3 mths ago
      The problem with most of the xbox live services.. cost too much. Most of what is offered I can get for free elsewhere or at least without spending the extra money for xbox live. Heck, I can hook my laptop up to my TV and get netflix, hulu, etc... FREE or it will FAIL
    • V
      V  •  3 mths ago
      As long as they are trying to do things that others are already doing, I wish they would work on making xbox's that do not scratch disks and never get the RROD.
    • Dan
      Dan  •  3 mths ago
      Pay for music? How quaint.
    • Franklin
      Franklin  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 mths ago
      This service is way over due. I'm glad to see it finally come about
    • Aldawg
      Aldawg  •  Norwalk, Connecticut  •  3 mths ago
      MicroTransaction$oft
    • the juice
      the juice  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 mths ago
      here is an idea- put Skype on 360!
    • A Yahoo! User  •  San Mateo, California  •  3 mths ago
      I didn't realized that it cost so much to listen to music these days.
      Follow me on Twitter @jazzfox4
    • N
      N  •  Chandler, Arizona  •  3 mths ago
      Again, MS trying to do something that everyone else is already doing. Nothing unique again from them. Ho hummm!
     Post a comment
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