Google launches ‘scan and match’ music service

Los Angeles – Google is turning on a “scan and match” service for Google Music users to store copies of their songs online, offering free what Apple charges $25 a year for.

The service, which launched yesterday, saves uploading time for those who want to save their music libraries online.

It scans a user’s computer and gives them online access to the songs it finds, as long as they match the songs on its servers. Otherwise, it will upload songs to a user’s online locker.

The service is similar to Apple Inc.’s iTunes Match, which includes online storage for 25 000 songs. Google Inc. allows storage for 20 000 songs and allows users to re-download the songs only at the same quality as they were at previously. Apple upgrades songs to iTunes quality.

Sapa-AP