Lala.com has introduced a new web-based service that lets you store your iTunes music library online for free. The service lets you play your music from anywhere, share it with anyone and purchase music for your iPod using a Web-based interface.
“As avid iPod fans we wanted to create a service that blends the convenience of the Web with the portability and functionality of a truly universal platform,” said Bill Nguyen, a founder of Lala. “Lala unleashes the Web’s power for playing music and safely sharing songs without the threat of PC viruses, spyware and other risks that are present on illegal P2P sites.”

The service streams music to users, and hopes to pay for this service through sales of tracks via the site.

A beta version of Lala is available immediately for hosting, playing or discovering music. The company has already reached an agreement with Warner Music Group (WMG) to make WMG’s content available on the site.

“Deploying more effective and creative strategies to drive music sales is of the utmost importance for the music industry today,” said IDC analyst Susan Kevorkian. “Next-generation online music services like Lala.com add a fresh twist to the online music shopping experience by combining the reach and flexibility of the Internet with compelling music discovery options and addressing the massive installed base of Apple’s iPod.”

In addition,Lala.com will let music fans:

• Host an iTunes or any other digital library and have them universally accessible from any PC or Mac with an Internet connection.
• Fill an iPod from the Web – a technological first in turning the iPod into a connected, online device with loading from any Internet-connected computer.
• Share a library with friends or stream others’ playlists.
• Try before they buy and listen to full albums without limitations and purchase music in either CD or digital form for iPods.
• Future-proof their digital music purchases with the assurance that they can get the physical CD for a small convenience fee starting at $2.99.

The service offers support for Windows XP and Vista, Mac OS X v10 and later, iTunes 7; and they recommend Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 and later and Firefox 2.0 and later.