Google to launch cloud music service - report

Google is preparing to unveil a new online music service similar to Amazon's recent launch, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal. Google, like Amazon, hasn't secured licences from the four major record companies, and is likely to include a system that functions much like a remote hard drive. Users of the service are expected to be able to listen to songs they have uploaded to the service in streaming, but won't be able to download the files themselves. A Google spokeswoman had no comment. Google is likely to announce the service at its annual Google I/O developers conference in San Francisco. Initially, the service is to operate in a testing mode, and not be available to the public at large. The launch comes as Apple is in negotiations with record labels to secure licences for a much more robust online music service than either Amazon's or the one Google has in the works, according to the paper. It is unclear when Apple might launch such a service, but most of the technical work has been complete for months, according to people familiar with the matter. An Apple spokesman declined to comment.