Microsoft unveils online song shop

Microsoft said on Friday that the second half of the year will see the launch of its online music store, a long-expected entry into an increasingly crowded business dominated by Apple Computer’s iTunes.

The software giant this week began offering sneak peaks of the service to independent record labels at the South by Southwest trade show in Austin, Texas. Though Microsoft remains mum about specific details, this week’s show signals the company’s heightened ambitions to enter the world of online music sales with a bang.

Microsoft will promote its music store primarily through its MSN.com web portal, according to company spokeswoman Lisa Gurry. Visitors will be able to sign up via MSN and browse a catalogue of songs and albums to purchase and download onto their computers. Gurry declined to comment on pricing or on the number of songs Microsoft plans to initially release on the service.

More: http://www.silicon.com/networks/webwatch/0,39024667,39119379,00.htm

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