Google Music to take on Apple iTunes and Spotify

Google is looking to challenge Apple iTunes and Spotify with the launch of its Google Music service.

Launched as a Beta test in May, Google Music is now available to anyone in the United States. Google has added a new music store to its Android Market that works with Google Music.

Music libraries, both downloads and other purchases, are synced across all devices. There is also an offline feature for selecting specific artists, albums and playlists to listen to offline. Google Music will work on PCs and laptop and Android tablets and smartphones.

Google Music currently has more than 13 million tracks from various record labels signed up. Currently only Warner Music is missing from the roster of ‘major' labels, with Universal Music, Sony, Music, EMI and others all signed up.

Songs purchased on an Android device will be synced with Google Music and can be accessed on any other device.

As part of the US launch Google has added exclusive offerings from artists such as The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Busta Rhymes, Shakira and Pearl Jam. A new ‘artist hub' has also been added to Google Music, allowing people and bands to create their own artist pages with tracks available to purchase and download.

When we contacted Google about a UK release, the company said it didn't have any launch dates beyond the US at this time.