Google Music Store

Following Google Music's U.S. launch, Google has issued a statement confirming that it "hopes" to launch the service in the UK at some point.

Offering no solid release date or window, in its brief statement the Google representative stated: "For now, Google Music is only available in the U.S. We do hope to bring this service to more people, but don't have anything more to share about international launch timelines."

Imaginatively titled Google Music, the new free service launched in the U.S. Thursday, adding a host of features to the company's original Music Beta. The new services included full library syncing, a new music store housing a reported 13 million songs and -- for those actually making music -- an artist's hub.

Currently only available in the U.S., the new music store contains music from artists on Universal Music Group,Sony Music Entertainment, EMI, and the global independent rights agency Merlin. Besides the mainstream labels, Google also reported cutting deals with "over 1,000 prominent independent labels including Merge Records, Warp Records, Matador Records, XL Recordings and Naxos."

The lack of a firm release date mirrors the approach taken by Apple with its new iTunes Match update. Launched in the U.S. on Tuesday, Apple's latest iTunes update also added the new Match service. Using the iCloud storage service, like Google Music, Match allows users to store their music on the cloud and stream it to their Mac, PC or iOS-powered device.

Apple likewise gave no firm release date for the new Match service. Check back at the IBTimes later in the year for a full look at Google Music.