Description: Microsoft has joined the music streaming competition in attempt to gain traction against iTunes and other music providing services. The newest streaming music service will be available on Xbox, mobile and tablet devices.

Source: CBC.ca

Date: October 15, 2012

Microsoft has launched Xbox Music, a digital music streaming service to take on Apple’s iTunes and other on-demand music services such as Spotify.

Buyers of tablets that run Microsoft’s newest operating system, Windows 8, will be among the first to use the service. Tablet buyers will be able to handpick from a selection of millions of songs and stream them for free – if they’re willing to listen to an audio ad every 15 minutes. Read Rest of Story

Questions for discussion:

1. How does Microsoft compare to Spotify’s price point and user base?

2. What is the major issue for mobile music streaming and how can users get around this?