Microsoft cuts Zune Pass price, kills option to keep 10 songs per month

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Beginning October 3, Microsoft's Zune Pass unlimited music service will undergo a number of changes, including the move to a lower price point. While lower prices usually make everyone happy, Microsoft is dropping a few unique and desired features from the service to lower the cost.

On October 3, the price of the Zune Pass in the U.S. will drop from $14.99 per month to $9.99 per month. It will also finally be available to Canadian Zune users, for the same $9.99 per month price. Unfortunately, Microsoft is also eliminating the option to download 10 songs of your choosing per month that you can keep forever. Before, the service was likened to buying 10 mp3 songs and getting unlimited streaming for $5 extra per month. Now, users will only have the streaming option. Those who already have the old plan will be able to stay on it if they choose, but new subscribers will only be able to opt for the new, $9.99 per month option.

The Zune Pass program offers unlimited streaming of over 14 million songs and tens of thousands of music videos to Windows Phone devices, the Xbox 360, Windows PCs, Zune devices, and online at Zune.net. [via

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