The feature that helps users avoid having to upload every song individually to Google's cloud is expected to be offered free of charge to consumers, first in Europe and then in the U.S.
Google announced plans today to roll out its version of a scan-and-match feature for the company's music service in Europe in two weeks and then in the United States soon after.
Google's Android mascot was decorated for last year's launch of Google Music, which has now been wrapped into Google Play
(Credit: Greg Sandoval/CNET)
The company was to announce the feature today, as well as other updates to Google Play entertainment media during a press event in New York that was supposed to mark the debut of the latest version of its Android operating system, according to multiple music industry sources. The search company cancelled the event due to Hurricane Sandy.
Last month, CNET reported that Google was close to obtaining the licenses it needed to launch the service. Google said in a blog post that it will launch scan-and-match in Europe on November 13 and the United States soon after.
Scan-and-match is the term used to describe a process whereby a user's music can be stored on the computer servers of a host service. The service can then stream songs over the Internet to the user's choice of Web-connected music players. The one deciding benefit of scan-and-match is that it saves the user from the time-consuming process of uploading each individual track to a host's servers.
Last month, CNET reported that Google planned to offer the feature free, which would certainly make it more attractive than the the same features offered by competitors, Apple and Amazon. Both of those companies require a $25 annual fee for their versions of the feature.There's an arms racing going on in online music to offer consumers cheaper music and more convenience. Scan-and-match was one of the areas where competition between Apple, Amazon, and Google were trying to one-up each other.
Google said in the blog post that its scan and match will be free to consumers.
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