Google enters the music streaming arena with 'All Access'

Search giant hope to expand their iTunes-like media center with a music streaming service

Google have launched a new music streaming service in the UK, providing access to more than 18 million songs for a monthly fee.

The new service enters a crowded market place and Google are hoping to draw users away from the likes of Spotify, Deezer, Rdio and Bloom.fm with an introductory monthly fee of £7.99 for those who sign up before September 15th. Most rival services cost £9.99 a month.

Called ‘All Access’, the new service is part of Google’s two tiered approach to Music on mobile device and a cornerstone in its ever-expanding ‘Google Play’ media center.

"With today's launch, Google Play moves one step closer to your ultimate digital entertainment destination, where you can find, enjoy and share your favourite apps, games, books, movies, magazines, TV shows and music on your Android phone or tablet." says Paul Joyce, Google Play Music’s product manager.

The standard service offers users an iTunes-like store for purchasing tracks and an ‘online storage locker’ that scans your computer for (licensed) music and then adding up to 20,000 tracks to your Google Play library.

The paid service adds unlimited song plays and custom radio stations. These can be created by clicking on any single tracks, album or artist, and come with unlimited skips.

“All Access lets you create an ad-free, interactive radio station from any song or artist you love,” says Joyce. “You can add, remove or re-order your station and see what’s coming next. Or you can browse recommendations from our expert music team and explore songs by genre.”

The service comes with a dedicated Android app and is part of Europe wide roll-out, also launching in Ireland,France, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Austria and Belgium.