As Windows 8 Phone Release Date Approaches, Microsoft Launches Xbox Music

Microsoft has been planning a major comeback with highly-anticipated Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

The Windows 8 devices are scheduled to launch Oct. 29, while the Windows 8 OS will be released Oct. 26, according to reports.

The device launch will include HTC 8X and Nokia's Lumia 920, along with the Samsung Ativ Smart PC and Asus Vivo Tab RT tablets. Microsoft has been tight-lipped about the products.

This is in contrast to the company's new operating system.

For years, Windows has been in the shadows of big competitors such as Apple. Now, with multi-billion dollar campaigns and favorable critic reviews, Microsoft has added yet another new feature to its lineup-music.

The software giant revealed Xbox Music back in June in hopes of competing against Apple's iTunes, Pandora and Spotify, Xbox Music will also be available on Windows 8 devices such as PCs and tablets, says CNET.

The music streaming service debuted yesterday on Xbox 360 consoles and on Windows 8 tablets and PCs Oct.29.

"Xbox has become the entertainment brand for Microsoft," said Scott Porter, a principal program manager at Microsoft. "Music is a key part of that strategy."

CNET said Xbox Music will be, without a doubt, a challenge for rivals such as Spotify and Pandora, which offers similar services. The article said Microsoft will probably sell hundreds of millions of copies of the new operating system within a few years. Spotify has gained 15 million active users and 4 million paid subscribers in four years.

The free version of the service will not allow users to download songs and save for offline playback. That will come at a price of $10 a month.

"A lot of people are going to be unhappy about this," said Michael Gartnerberg, an analyst at Gartner who was briefed by Microsoft about Xbox Music. "This is going to put a lot of pressure on Spotify. It's going to put pressure on Pandora."

An Xbox spokesman said nothing will prevent Windows 8 users from downloading services such as Spotify and Pandora.