Microsoft really likes world dominancy and there are still some areas where they haven’t reached the majority share of the market. According to inside sources, the company is preparing to launch both a new rival to the iPod and a new music service bent on toppling iTunes from its perch at the top of the online music world. The company has apparently demonstrated a device which plays both music and video internally. It has also been negotiating with record labels about licensing for its own service. There is no specific word on when the device and the service will launch.

It would seem like an uphill battle for Microsoft against iTunes. They already provide the copyright software technology behind several of iTunes’ rivals, but none of those sites have been able to make any more than a small dent in Apple’s juggernaut. On the other hand, Microsoft will certainly have the money to fight the battle, and a base of Xbox devotees to harness and build from. There are already first more accure information from the unknown inside source: Microsoft’s service will mostly emphasize the pay-per-download. A subscription component will also be offered, according to early accounts of the planned service. The price of one song will be probably very similar as with iTunes, about $1. They will have pretty hard work at least with beating iPods majority share mostly in the USA but also in the rest of world, but as we already realized many times, nothing is impossible, especially if we talk about Microsoft. I also found one cool image showing probably the most-known blue screen of the history on the iPod. We can only hope this will not become a real thing…

Source: Wired, CNet

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