Google Opens Music Store To US Challenge To Apple

LOS ANGELES, Google unveiled its much-anticipated digital music store Wednesday, opening a new front in its battle with Apple to provide services over mobile devices.

For the first time, Google Inc. sell songs on the Android Market, its online store for applications, movies and books. The service is available in the coming days for customers in the United States, but it aims to eventually deploy some 200 million users worldwide Android.

Google offers 13 million copies sold, three of the four major record companies - Vivendi's Universal Music Ltd., EMI Group Ltd. and Sony Music Entertainment - and a host of independent labels. Warner Music Group is a large record company failed. Warner spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.

Some songs are free, while others were priced at 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29 — the same prices as on Apple’s iTunes. Artists whose work is available right away include Adele, Jay-Z and Pearl Jam. The store will feature dozens of free tracks from artists like Coldplay, Rolling Stones and Busta Rhymes.

Google is offering 13 million tracks for sale, from three of the four major recording companies — Vivendi SA’s Universal Music, EMI Group Ltd. and Sony Music Entertainment — and a host of independent labels. Warner Music Group was the major recording company left out. Warner spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment.

Google is allowing the sharing of songs purchased through its social network, Google Plus. Friends will be able to listen to each other's songs once for free.

Once someone buys a song, you can download and automatically download for free online in a closet. The song can be played on the computer and mobile phone browsers, including Safari, which comes in devices such as Apple Inc. iPad People who download music on devices with Google Android 2.2 and higher can listen to music stored or downloaded to read online in the application.

The songs are available in MP3 format encoded at 320 kbps. Prices ranging from 69C to 99C song and $ 1.29, just like Apple's iTunes.

The lack of Google Music, Warner Music will be without some famous names, like Led Zeppelin and Prince, which is available in stores like Apple's iTunes rival.

"They need to get that [music] complete catalog of fast enough," said Mike McGuire, an analyst at Gartner Research. "It starts, but it is as if the work in progress".

Analysts say that online music sales is unlikely that much of a lift for Google's revenue. But they say that Google has to be in the market to ensure that their mobile Android-based efforts can match the offer from its competitors.

Google is that it allows sharing of songs on your social network, Google Earth Plus. Friends will be able to hear each other's songs once for free.