The Rolling Stone article Microsoft to Debut Store makes several predictions about Microsoft's music store:
- available September 2
- up to 700,000 songs available
- not compatible with iPod
- to be integrated with Windows
- may offer Beatles catalog

Nothing earth-shattering there. However, there's an interesting tidbit in the quote from EMI's Ted Cohen. He says the Microsoft store is "a better mousetrap" because it integrates the company's search and instant-messaging technologies.

The iTunes store has a good search function, but the link to IM is interesting. It could be used to highlight and share playlists among store users.