As expected, Google announced on May 10, 2011 its new Music Beta service, offering users the ability to upload their music libraries to Google’s servers for cloud-based hosting that allows users to access their music library from any device with an internet connection. Android users can currently download a Google Music app available in the Android App Market.

Music Beta can work just as well without Android – and that may just be where Google has a leg up against Apple and iTunes. iPhone users will be required pop open their Safari browser, head to music.google.com, and hit Play . . . that is until the app comes to them via the iTunes store.

The Music Beta offering competes against Amazon’s Cloud Drive and Cloud Player services, as well as Apple’s expected MobileMe revamp.

Using your device of choice, you can buy and download your favorite songs and store them into playlists and libraries.  Features include Instant Mix where you can take your favorite music track and the software will analyze it and create your own “album” with closely related songs and artists… instantly!  Also, because the music is streamed and downloaded from the “cloud”, no more cable plugins and/or syncing!  Your libraries are permanently accessible from all your devices because the downloads are saved your Google account, so if you change phones, you keep your music!  You can save up to 20,000 songs and the same pinning feature used in the movie rentals app is also available in the Google Music Beta.

This application is in beta release and offered by invitation only. Learn more about Google Music Beta here.