It seems like almost every major industry player is looking to dip its toes into the digital music market, and Microsoft is obviously no exception.
Case in point – Redmond’s new Xbox Music service. Although official information regarding pricing has been rather scarce, a number of “leaked” photos have surfaced that purportedly claim the service will cost $9.99 per month or $99 annually.
Unfortunately, it isn’t really clear what your monthly fee will get you. Presumably, we’re talking about a streaming option along the lines of Pandora and Rhapsody.
Microsoft is also said to be working up a Xbox dashboard update that will allow users to try out the music service on its flagship console. Pricing for the music service is supposedly the same as the Zune Pass service. Additional reports indicate Microsoft may also offer a free ad supported music service similar to Spotify.
Other rumors point to a scan-and-match locker service, with The Verge talking about a single-tier dual subscription streaming service – possibly referring to a music and video streaming option. Personally, I could see a platform like that giving Netflix a run for its money – especially if the video content is up to speed.
The photos that have surfaced thus far for the Xbox Music interface seem to indicate there will be a free 14-day trial and perhaps even a 30-day trial under certain circumstances. Although the music service is expected to launch along with Windows 8 on October 26, additional details may very well leak before the official roll out date.
