Google launches 'scan and match' music service

LOS ANGELES —

Google is turning on a scan and match service for Google Music users to store copies of their songs online, offering for free what Apple charges $25 a year for.

The service saves uploading time for those who want to save their music libraries online. It scans a user’s computer and gives them online access to the songs it finds, as long as they match the songs on its servers. Otherwise, it will upload songs to a user’s online locker.

The service is similar to Apple Inc’s iTunes Match, which includes online storage for 25,000 songs. Google Inc. allows storage for 20,000 songs and allows users to re-download the songs only at the same quality as they were at previously. Apple upgrades songs to iTunes quality.