According to a report by Bloomberg, Microsoft might slash the price of its Zune Pass online music streaming service. Although the service is already a bargain, Redmond is up against fierce competition like Apple, who currently commands a vast majority of digital music sales. Apple and its legion of iPods also held 76% of the portable music player market in the first quarter, compared to 2% for Microsoft's Zune, according to NPD.
Meanwhile, Rhapsody, another face in the music download business, recently reduced the monthly price of its premier music service from $14.99 to $9.99. That fee gets you unlimited streaming across a variety of hardware, including PCs, home audio equipment, and one mobile device.
For $14.99 a month, Zune Pass also offers unlimited music streaming to as many as three portable devices and three computers. Additionally, you can download 10 DRM-free songs per month - no strings attached, yours to keep forever. If Microsoft cuts its rate, Zune Pass will undoubtedly be the best value available, short of piracy.