Microsoft will release before the end of the year “killer” iTunes

Microsoft is going to the end of the year to launch its own music service, which should become a full-fledged competitor to both the online iTunes store and streaming music service Spotify, says news agency Bloomberg.

 

It is reported that the software giant is now in talks with four major record labels Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony and EMI to obtain the necessary licenses to distribute their content.

Launch of new musical proposals in the Xbox-service is scheduled for the second half of 2012. In its new music service Microsoft plans to integrate the most popular services are competing with it Apple.

Community Xbox Music will have the opportunity to purchase music tracks directly from an online store similar to iTunes, or listen to them streamed over the Internet, paying a monthly or annual access. In addition, Microsoft is going to allow users to store music on their servers, getting access to it via mobile devices based on Windows 8. The same principle works service iTunes Match, which allows you to stream music from the cloud on the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV.

Previously, Microsoft has tried to expand its presence in the market of online music services with the help of the player Zune, which, in general, was not very successful and will be closed and its members will transfer to the new platform.

It is expected that all the new features will be launched in the framework of the existing music service Xbox Music, intended for users of video game console from Microsoft.