Xbox Music browser version launched

Xbox Music is now available as a browser based player, with Microsoft’s streaming music streaming service continuing to spread its wings beyond the company’s existing apps for Windows Phone, Windows, and the Xbox 360 games console.

The Xbox Music web player gives listeners access to synchronised playlists from all iterations of the service regardless of device, and is open to all Xbox Music Pass subscribers and (for a 30 day trial period) free listeners. After that 30 day trial period is up, free listeners will have to cough up the cash to become subscribers in order to continue to use the new web player.

The web player can also playback any of the “millions” of tracks available through the service, as well as offering full search functionality and editorially curated content.

Xbox Music launched back in October 2012, with Microsoft now actively looking to take on the likes of Spotify by expanding the reach of the service beyond its own Xbox/Windows platforms. Android and iOS apps have been said to be in the works since Xbox Music’s initial introduction, though there is still no sign of release for the pair, nor any substantial updates from Microsoft on their status.

Like Spotify, Xbox Music features an ad-supported model for free listeners, with unlimited access to the catalogue of songs (albeit punctuated by adverts) for 6 months. After the 6 month period ends, free listeners are limited to ten hours of tunes per month. An Xbox Music Pass subscription, costing £8.99 a month or £89.99 annually, lifts all restrictions and removes all adverts.