MSN Music download store launches today

Posted by Daniel Bennett on Wed 4 Nov 2009

Microsoft also eyes up Spotify with its new music streaming service

Microsoft has finally launched its music download store, MSN Music, today.

The store, originally scheduled for a July launch, sells over one million DRM-free tracks from all the major labels to people with a Windows Live ID.

- Read our Spotify iPhone Mobile app review here

Microsoft says the service will provide users with a “rich, web-based experience”. The music download site will also contain information on the bands and artists, such as biographies and discographies.

Microsoft is testing out a credit system for the service, with ten credits costing £7.99. Each track costs one credit and an album costs ten. As their pricing is exactly the same as iTunes, Microsoft will be hoping that offering users a deeper experience will lure customers away from Apple and other music download services.

The company is also providing a free music streaming service for a limited time, just like Spotify, which won our Innovation of the Year award in the T3 Gadget Awards.

However, Microsoft is treading carefully as it's only offering this service to a limited number of users, for a limited amount of time.

Link: MSN Music