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On Wednesday, Google Inc started a new streaming music service to compete with companies like Pandora and Spotify. The service, which costs $9.99 a month, allows a user to listen to an unlimited number of songs. Google announced the launch of the new service at its annual developer’s conference in San Francisco.
The new service by Google would allow users access to songs and music from 22 genres, allow them to make customized collections, stream individual playlists, or listen to a continuous stream of music that can be controlled by the user.
The service is being launched first for U.S., while several other countries are being considered for inclusion on the next step.
The developers’ conference also witnessed Google announcing other major improvements to its services, including voice-activated search and brand new mapping features. The focus of the conference was on making Android more friendly and acceptable to mobile users.
While Android already runs on about more than 70 percent of smartphones, the launch of a streaming music service puts Google one step ahead of Apple in the race to dominate the mobile user market, though Apple was the pioneer in selling music online.
With the announcement of the new service, shares of Google went up by more than 3 percent on Wednesday.
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Streaming music for mobiles seems to be the newest and hottest market niche for tech companies with companies like Facebook, Amazon and others, all striving to have a share of the market.
Apple’s iTunes service had been a big influencing factor for users in deciding to go for their OS, but with the new streaming music service, Google has strengthened its market position, if the service can deliver the promised quality.
However, things are yet to be seen, and as people noted, Google’s CEO Larry Page, did not bring up the subject of Google Glass during his 45 minute on-stage speech at the conference, though Google Glass has drawn much interest and appreciation from the tech world.
