Microsoft will today officially launch its MSN Music store in the US, and eight European countries through a partnership with Loudeye.

The launch of MSN Music store comes as part of a raft of consumer-focused announcements, including details of Windows XP Media Center 2005 and the Windows Media Player 10 will be available for mobile devices allowing them to interact with Media Center PCs.

The download service will be available in the US, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Spain, Austria and Switzerland.

The MSN Music Store, Microsoft's response to Apple's iTunes, is also available through Windows XP Media Center's TV interface, along with dozens of other online services that provide music, movies, radio and other content.

From DIGIT