Google Music launches

Late this afternoon, Google Music officially launched in the United States, ending a limited beta that started in May. The service differentiates from others by emphasizing mobile devices and by providing free full song or album plays when shared. Google will sell music from Android Market, where it as well offers ebooks and movies. The search and information giant encodes tunes as 320Kbps MP3s, surpassing Apple's iTunes and other digital music sellers.

Google Music streams songs to supported devices -- Android phones, Macs and Windows PCs -- running the search giant's software. Users as well can "pin" songs, so they download to their phones. Google Music desktop software syncs users' personal music from their Mac or Windows PC to the cloud.

The service will typically pay using Google Checkout

Users of the service will typically pay using Google Checkout. T-Mobile subscribers will in the near future be able to pay through their phone bills. Pricing is comparable to iTunes, for singles, typically 99 cents or $1.29. Nevertheless, many albums are a little less, like AmazonMP3, at $9.49. That said, prices are variable, similar to competing stores.

Buyers can purchase from computer or Android phone. Google Music Android app is available for immediate download, for people wanting to buy without warning. The company will dispatch the updated app to Android 2.2 and above devices over the straightway few days, as well updating Mac and Windows PC software.

Google as well is working around labels, if you will, by allowing musicians to sell directly through the store via the "Artist hub". Registration is similar to that for Android developers, and like them artists keep 70 percent of earnings. Artists set up their own music page, write the bio, set attributes and metadata for tracks and, clearly, upload music. Artists as well will be able to sell music alongside videos on YouTube.