Google, as Apple, is a new player in the music streaming business. Some of us had the chance to be able to try the new, free of charge – for now -, Google Music Beta system, we’ll give our impressions regarding this service.

First, the service only gives you the possibility to upload your music and listen to it through the web, there is no Deezer-like abilities here, no catalog – yet, Google is rumored to be launching a new service this summer. The system is based on a software installed on your computer, you add files that you would like to upload in the cloud. The software is quite nice and efficient, but my god it takes a very long time to upload GOs of music (it took me several hours to upload most of my music), but eh there is not much Google could have done better.

Passed this first problem, the experience through your browser is great, you have basically access to your whole music collection all around the world – with a computer and an internet connection of course. The interface is quite simple, I feel like it is a little too simple for now, but this is only a beta version.

So the desktop side is quite nice, except for the technical limitation of the system and of our current internet connexions, it takes time to upload thousand and thousand of titles. What about your Android phone?

Well Google didn’t forget your Android phone. You can download the Google Music app – through the market now – and access your files trough the network. The interface is similar to the desktop’s one, very simple and efficient. It is lacking a more efficient market integration/music catalog integration, iTunes has the advantage regarding that matter, even if Google added a “Shop this artist” option, sending you to Amazon, this is not the same… I guess Google is working on something. The sound quality is great, there is almost no difference with the desktop experience – it depends what headphones you’re using i guess, you still can hear that the music is compressed.

The main problem with that service is the data question. You have the possibility to use the whole service or at least most of its functionalities only through wifi. It is quite nice to use it through wifi, even if I think the buffering and the loading are quite long – this is a beta version. But through 3G or even 3G+ this is really slow, the service is moreover quite aggressive regarding your data plan. In areas with bad reception the service becomes useless… I’ve been using it on a Samsung GSII and with the problem that affects the phone – the random switch between 3G and 3G+ – there is no way I can play a song, even with perfect reception… This is quite frustrating. Google thought possible to strike against that problem creating the possibility to making the music of your choice accessible offline, but even this option works weirdly, i quite don’t understand how the app works regarding that matter.

Anyway, i don’t think Google Music is a perfect solution for a “on the go” everyday music solution, it is perfect through wifi or on the go but if you already planned what you would listen by making the music available offline. Though, it is a good service for travelers, and i trust Google to enhance the service and make it way better in the future.