Google debuts Music Beta cloud storage service

Today at its I/O developers conference, Google unveiled a new cloud-based music storage and streaming service called, for the time being, Music Beta. The service allows users to store up to 20,000 of their own songs in a virtual "locker" which can then be accessed from multiple devices. The beta version of the service is now available by invitation (you can request an invite on the Google Music Beta site), and will remain so at least until the beta ends.

The service works hand-in-hand with a new version of the Android music app available today (for devices running version 2.2 Froyo or higher) that allows Beta users to store and access their tunes on the cloud. Along with universal music availability across tablets, smartphones and computers, your playlists also carry over to each device synced. The app also caches recently played music so that while the majority of your tunes are stored exclusively on the cloud, you'll still have a selection of songs available should you lose your network connection for whatever reason. 

The cloud locker concept is similar in nature to Amazon's Cloud Drive which allows the storage of music and videos which are then accessible from almost all web-capable devices. Murmurs of Google's answer to Amazon's first shot had been swirling since before Cloud Drive debuted, but Amazon beat Google to the punch — and paid the price in the form of music industry uproar over a lack of song licensing. It was thought that Google would hold off on launching its version until the licensing issues were put to rest, however that doesn't appear to be the case, and talks between Google and several record labels hit snags before an agreement could be reached. If you're interested, make your way to the beta signup page promptly, as we're sure the invites will begin rolling out before too long. 

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