Microsoft to launch music streaming service "imminently," could tie-in with Xbox / Zune

While even bigwigs can fudge release numbers from time to time, the word "imminently" just carries a certain aura. Speaking with The Telegraph, executive producer of MSN Peter Bale confessed that Microsoft was "looking at launching a music streaming service imminently." As in, maybe before the dawn of August. Bale added that it would be "a similar principle to Spotify," but the outfit is still examining exactly how the business model would work. It's expected that the service would let users stream tunes for free so long as they listen to ads every half hour or so, but for those with too little time and too many jams, there could be a paid option that strips the plugs. What's unclear now, however, is exactly how this initiative will tie-in with the company's Xbox 360 and Zune. There's no doubt that Microsoft is aiming to make the former an all-encompassing multimedia box, but we're sure it'd rather not convolute things with Zune Pass all the same.

[Via Joystiq]

[LAY Posted Jul 14th 2009 1:11PM]

"WTF? Look_Around_You, you call yourself a Microsoft Fanboy and don't know Master Chief. For shame!"

Actually I dont call myself one. And 2, I dont play PC games, so sorry if I dont know the names of all the guys.

[Kit Posted Jul 14th 2009 1:14PM]

I made something special for you Paul.

Engadget without Microsoft.
http://pipes.yahoo.com/hkyeung/engadgetnomicrosoft

[VojD Posted Jul 14th 2009 1:17PM]

That Monty Python esque splash thats coming out of the Zune only says one thing to me...Chaos! - run for your lives...

[Borisk Posted Jul 14th 2009 1:19PM]

It would be nice to stream music via the zune wireless.

[telepheedian Posted Jul 14th 2009 2:27PM]

You already can. Just go to the marketplace and hit play (Zune Pass subscribers only).

[GadgetGeeks Posted Jul 14th 2009 1:21PM]

only if the Zune supported Slacker.com. What a perfect marriage that would be...

[telepheedian Posted Jul 14th 2009 2:28PM]

The Channels are already kind of similar to this.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2009 1:25PM]

Are you all sure he's not just talking about the upcoming Last.fm integration? They are launching that imminently and the article seems to indicate that they're looking into future download-to-own services.

[Aaron CT Posted Jul 14th 2009 4:50PM]

"Launching a music service" would mean that it was new. Last.fm is already an established service, and probably will hit in September along with the rest of the Xbox updates/Zune updates.

[newtype Posted Jul 14th 2009 1:44PM]

MS,

Why do this when their are other, more publicly visible services that you should be focusing on instead (Last.fm!)...

...I suppose this means they will never support a Last.fm plug-in for Zune.

[smakus Posted Jul 14th 2009 2:12PM]

Considering Last.fm is getting an xbox 360 integration, I wouldn't count it out just yet...

[Erik Posted Jul 14th 2009 2:01PM]

@Maeztro:

I vote we call it Engadgiquette.

[Ryiujin Posted Jul 14th 2009 2:05PM]

I agree that this new service might be awesome but isnt this a third leg to the zune pass and xbox market place duo? I really wish that microsoft would drop or intergrate zune into the market place already and keep things simple ya know? For one thing have hulu style video and even add pandora. What if it was like netflix, ten bucks a month to watch streaming tv and music? I dont know just a thought, what do you guys think? Too many services?

[Aaron CT Posted Jul 14th 2009 2:15PM]

One can only hope/assume this ties in with the Zune/Xbox. The former definitely needs some actual martketing/pushing instead of just sitting back and staring at it, hoping it'll do tricks.

[NoSuch Posted Jul 14th 2009 2:26PM]

Engadget - If you upgrade the comments system I'd really like an ignore button. Let 'em post, I just don't want to hear it.

[telepheedian Posted Jul 14th 2009 2:26PM]

Zune Pass 2.0? In a lot of ways, they already have this.

[telepheedian Posted Jul 14th 2009 2:30PM]

@Maeztro: Before Paul, there was iEye. Before/at the same time, there was Clak. Engadgeteers have been trying to remove these name from their memory for years.

[enhuman Posted Jul 14th 2009 2:49PM]

I would love to have my Zune Pass and 360 Gold membership merged. Esp if it'll save me a couple of bucks. I mean gamertag=zunetag=liveID. I can understand how integration != linking and could host a variety of issues, especially with a company as large and diverse as Microsoft. Imagine a possible consumer base of all of the XBL members.

So, Mr. Ballmer; let me play all of my music and/or videos (and any I may want to "purchase" in the future) through my xbox, on my zune, on my computer, and stream at work. And do it at the same cost as I incur now. Thanks.

P.S. and throw in some palm pre accessibility as well.

[o29 Posted Jul 14th 2009 2:53PM]

At least ieye knew he was a troll. I'd take him instead any day.

[NohOne Posted Jul 14th 2009 3:04PM]

Paul, you left my name off that list. I feel so neglected.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2009 3:19PM]

"I remember the day when you could go into an Apple related article and not see fifty haters trolling the comments... oh wait, no I don't."

- Paul a. Chapel

Does anyone else find this statement by Paul laughably ironic? I can almost hear Alanis Morrisette writing new lyrics right now.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2009 3:20PM]

"I remember the day when you could go into an Apple related article and not see fifty haters trolling the comments... oh wait, no I don't."
- Paul A. Chapel

Does anyone else find this statement by Paul laughably ironic? I can almost hear Alanis Morrisette writing new lyrics right now.

[Tubular Posted Jul 14th 2009 3:45PM]

Perhaps it'd be like this:

1. Zune Pass Premium stays the same: Pay $15/month (I think that's the cost); download unlimited songs; keep 10 songs per month; no ads.

2. Zune Pass Basic: Well, basically it becomes like Slacker Radio and Slacker Player. Load up your Zune with songs but listen to an ad ever few minutes or so; yet you'll be able to skip back and forth unlimited times (unlike Pandora), but unable to skip the ads.

Kind of brilliant, if that's the deal. I'd be very interested. I rarely download songs to my computer anymore; I just grab them off of Lala.com for 10 cents for streaming instead - and the ones I want to listen to while I'm away from the Internet, I download. It'd be great if Zune had a web-based component for listening to your music, too. Or do they? Is that what Zune Social is?

[NohOne Posted Jul 14th 2009 4:08PM]

Mikey, in the eyes of Paul, Quix, Jubei, Zak, etc. if somebody uses an Apple product and has problems, they are either lying and don't use those products, or they are lying and making up the issue, or it is the user's fault for using the Apple product correctly, or it is a problem with hardware component from another company and therefore not Apple's fault, or it is the user's stupidity for wanting something that Apple has decided you do not want, or .... Not falling in line with the official Apple view of the world automatically labels you a hater and are to be attacked with slanderous statements as being a "psychopath". You should never speak out against Apple nor for an Apple competitor.

Meanwhile, they are permitted by some "moral authority" do those very things towards any non-Apple company (not just Microsoft) that they complain people are saying about Apple. Any single person on the internet makes a claim about a non-Apple company, it is held as absolute truth, backing their claims. They are not haters or trolls, because in their mind they fully believe the Apple products they use (and for some, products they don't use) are perfection. Proof in this is reflected in Paul, he does not use an iPhone, but somehow it is so perfect he can tell others it is perfect without ever knowing how "perfect" it truly is.

If you do not own a specific Apple product, then no, you should not be going into an article about that product and commenting on how bad it is. Same goes for non-Apple products from the other side. However, for somebody like myself who owns both Apple (I own a Mac, an iPhone, and an iPod) and non-Apple products (multiple windows computers, Zune, etc) his little personal attacks go nowhere with me. And when I have a problem, you can be damn sure I will speak my mind about those problems. If that makes me a hater or a psychopath, then I wear those titles with pride. So proud, in fact, I changed my user name to reflect that title.

[Smacky Wolf Posted Jul 14th 2009 8:36PM]

After MS announcing the ability of the new Xbox update to use Zune media, and specifically noting that Australia will be one of the countries where it is available, what is the likelihood that us poor Aussies will finally see this and the Zune down under?

[brr404 Posted Jul 14th 2009 4:24PM]

get a life paul....

[Jerome36 Posted Jul 14th 2009 4:28PM]

This is sort of interesting, considering Microsoft just announced a partnership with last.fm, to get online music streaming on Xbox Live.

[The Punisher Posted Jul 14th 2009 6:04PM]

Why can I never change my avatar? I use Chrome on Vista 64. I use 64x64 Jpgs. But when I upload it never changes.

[ch3burashka Posted Jul 14th 2009 6:46PM]

Does that mean that the Zune HD will be able to stream Pandora and Last.fm???

[Dojomann Posted Jul 14th 2009 6:58PM]

Well, if it was that easy, a caveman could do it.

[kurisutofu Posted Jul 14th 2009 11:11PM]

Imagine someday you meet a new guy, say, at work.
He says "Hi, my Name is Paul Chapel." (assuming he doesn't bring his middle name)

How would you feel?

[CJ Posted Jul 15th 2009 8:16AM]

"I remember the day when you could go into an Apple related article and not see fifty haters trolling the comments... oh wait, no I don't."

You... DO realise that this is a Zune post, yeah? Like, completely unrelated to Apple? (Well, other than the fact that it's in the same market).

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2009 8:58AM]

I'm a little confused. Wasn't MS going to integrated Last.FM support in the new fall dashboard update? Wouldn't this be a conflict?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2009 9:02PM]

Before Look_Around_You, we had Hamidxa. Before Hamidxa we had Saad Rabia. You guys don't care about trolls, you just hate people that like Apple.


Wait, you mean there IS such a person?