More Rumblings of a Microsoft Music Store

CNet notes that Microsoft is looking into a Music Store offering:

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said his company is exploring ways to develop a music download service similar to Apple Computer's iTunes that would tie into the software giant's multimedia applications

This is only the latest in a series of potential threats to Apple's iTunes Music Store which is due to come to Windows by year's end.

This is not the first time Microsoft has been cited as a player in the digital music downloads market. In June, the LATimes even reported that Microsoft had been demoing their version of the Music store. A Microsoft solution would certainly make it more challenging for Apple to make inroads on the Windows platform.