Amazon has launched a new cloud-based music streaming platform in the US, getting a head-start on both Apple and Google in the coveted music streaming business.
Apple is rumored to be working on an upgrade for its current MobileMe cloud storage solution that will enable customers to store their iTunes libraries in the cloud and allow for over-the-air streaming of music, videos and other media.
Several reports suggest that Google is internally testing a cloud music service of its own.
"Our customers have told us they don't want to download music to their work computers or phones because they find it hard to move music around to different devices," said Bill Carr, vice president of Movies and Music at Amazon in a March 29 press release.
"Now, whether at work, home, or on the go, customers can buy music from Amazon MP3, store it in the cloud and play it anywhere."
Amazon Cloud Play is available to consumers using Mac and PCs (via the Cloud Player for Web) and to those on Google's Android operating systems (via the Amazon MP3 App which includes Cloud Player for Android). According to Engadget, it will support music purchased from iTunes too.
"The launch of Cloud Drive, Cloud Player for Web and Cloud Player for Android eliminates the need for constant software updates as well as the use of thumb drives and cables to move and manage music," said Carr.
Amazon Cloud Player will enable customers to store up to 5GB of their music collection in Amazon's Cloud Drive storage for free. Additional Cloud Drive space can be purchased starting from $20 per year.
The Cloud Drive is not just limited to music either, customers can also use it to securely store photos, videos and documents in the cloud.
Amazon is offering additional Cloud Drive storage to customers who purchase an album from Amazon MP3; customers will automatically be upgraded to 20GB of Cloud Drive space and purchases made on Amazon MP3 will not count towards their total storage quota.
For more information on Amazon's cloud-based streaming solution visit:
Amazon Cloud Drive: http://www.amazon.com/clouddrive
Amazon Cloud Player for Web: http://www.amazon.com/cloudplayer
Amazon Cloud Player for Android: http://www.amazon.com/cloudplayerandroid
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