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Google is in negotiations with music publishers to develop a Spotify-esque subscription streaming music service for its Android operating system, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Currently, Google has a scan-and-match music service like iTunes Match, as well as an Android-focused music download store.
Google Inc.'s Android unit has been negotiating with music companies to start a paid subscription music-streaming service akin to Spotify AB, according to people familiar with the matter.
Separately, Google's YouTube video website is trying to obtain licenses from music labels to start a paid subscription service for music videos and potentially also for audio-only songs, these people said.
There have been rumors for nearly five years about Apple developing a subscription music service, though more recently reports have surfaced that Apple is aiming to release its service sometime in 2013.
Bloomberg reported in October that Apple was aiming for a first quarter launch, but record labels have suggested that negotiations were hung up over licensing fees.
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Future posters: please repeat this phrase 50 times throughout the rest of this thread to make sure everyone knows this. It can't be stated enough.
Actually, I'm making fun of all the people who kept saying this in the last Google thread. Think there were about 300 different people who posted it verbatim.
You'd go through the thread. Someone would say something, another guy would reply, then you'd see it.
"Looks like Google's throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks."
Three or four posts would pass, and...
"Looks like Google's throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks."
It was kinda scary.
1. Google Now competes favorably with Siri.
2. Google Music competes favorably with iTunes Match (is free and has a web interface that you can use anywhere).
3. Google now makes some of the prettiest iOS software (G+, Gmail and YouTube app are really nice on either platform).
4. Google Glass seems to be moving from a pie-in-the-sky type prototype to an actual product.
5. Nexus 4 is a really nice smartphone for a crazy unsubsidized price (Is an iPhone 5 really worth $300 more than a Nexus 4?).
6. They're rumored to start building retail outlets.
If they manage to do something with Google TV this year, I might actually be impressed with the company.
The problem with Apple is you never know what they're up to.