Software giant Microsoft has revealed in a recent announcement that it is coming up with its new digital music platform - dubbed `Xbox Music' - which will be a comprehensive service, offering free ad-supported streaming of its subscription music library, along with a Pandora-like artist-based Internet radio, as well as a premium `Xbox Music Pass' tier for offering ad-free streaming and "cloud locker" functionality.

Revealing that the Xbox Music - which replaces Microsoft's digital media brand Zune - will essentially be a digital music service that will take on Apple's iTunes and Amazon. com's Cloud Player, Microsoft said that the service will be available for the company's popular Xbox gaming consoles from Tuesday.

The software company also disclosed that, once the Windows 8 OS is launched officially on October 26, the new Xbox Music service will be extended to Windows-based computers and tablets, including Microsoft's own branded Surface tablet.

In addition, close on the heels of the Xbox Music availability for computers and tablets, Microsoft also intends expanding its new digital music service to handsets.

About Microsoft's decision to launch the new Xbox Music service, Jerry Johnson - general manager of the forthcoming service- said that the move is based on the observation that Xbox users spend between 50 and 60 percent of their time on entertainment services instead of video gaming; and added that Microsoft is aware of the fact that "music is an important ingredient on its own and as a part of different user experiences."