Music to our ears?
Microsoft will link MSN Music with Zune, its newly launched music shop and streaming service ahead of the official unveiling of Windows Phone 7.
It has joined the two musical offerings to link its music editorial to related content on Zune, letting users more easily snap up the tunes they are interested in.
Microsoft launched its ‘digital entertainment service' in the UK last week and the proposition has gradually morphed from a rival iTunes to cloud media service for Windows Phone 7, syncing alongside Windows and Xbox LIVE.
Zune allows users to browse and buy music from its marketplace or use a ‘Zune pass' music subscription (for £8.99 a month) to stream music directly through their internet browser to a computer, Xbox 360 or WP7, the latter of which Microsoft will be crossing its fingers for.
Steven Wilson-Beales from MSN Music, said: "People will now be able to consume a range of music news, videos, spotlights on new music and artist information and have at their fingertips, the ability to purchase and listen to the music they want, wherever they want."
Zune will replace the current download store attached to MSN Music.
Microsoft seems to be keen on integration of late. The software giant has only just announced its partnership with WordPress to offer a better blogging service, phasing out its own Windows Live Spaces.
Dharmesh Mehta director of Windows Live Product Management, has previously said Microsoft would focus on "letting consumers connect their experiences across the web to what they are doing in Windows Live, and vice versa," and it appears the firm is keen to join up its other services too.
