Android vs Apple: Google Music takes on iTunes

In a seeming attempt to tread on every single one of its fierce rivals’ toes, Google has launched its own MP3 buying music service in the US.

Aimed at Android smartphone users, Google Music was announced this week with all the major record labels on board with the exception of Warner Music (Led Zeppelin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Death Cab For Cutie etc).

While initially only available in America due to rights reasons, the service is expected to go global. It would seem Google rushed the release a little, probably to follow fast on the heels of Apple’s iTunes Match release this week and steal a bit of its thunder.

One benefit of the Google Music service is exclusive content, with initial offerings from the likes of The Rolling Stones, Shakira and Coldplay. Tracks are available at the same prices as on iTunes and the same maximum encoding quality (320kbps).

According to Google the service had more than 13 million tracks available at launch, with both individual songs and whole albums available and they can be downloaded directly to either a PC or Android device straight into your Google Library, then available anywhere.

The service will run on Android smartphones and tablets with version 2.2 and above, while free songs have been promised to help the launch along. We’ll let you know as soon as we see a date for a UK release of the service.