Microsoft is launching a new, lower cost Zune Pass. The new option will cost the same $10 per month as competing services but drop the 10 free permanent MP3 tracks from the $15 original. Listeners will also sync to fewer computers and devices, down from six to four, when the plan goes live October 3.
Existing subscribers will be grandfathered in with their accounts, but new subscribers will have only the $10 plan to choose from.
The news came with expected arrival of the Zune Music Marketplace in Canada. The store will have similar per-track and subscription pricing to that of the American store and work across all of Microsoft’s platforms, including streaming on the Xbox 360 as well as the usual Zune apps, Zune devices, and Windows Phone. Those committed to a Zune Pass can get a discount at $100 Canadian ($97 USD) for a full year’s access.
Both Canada and the US will get music video streams on the Zune Windows app on October 3 and in the fall on the Xbox 360, most likely in time for the fall Dashboard update.