Google and Samsung take on Apple Music with six months of free music streaming

Google and Samsung are looking to take on Apple Music by offering six months of free music streaming through Google Play Music to anyone who buys one of Samsung's latest smartphones.

UK customers purchasing many of Samsung's smartphones, including its Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge, will now get half a year's worth of access to the streaming service which typically costs £9.99 a month. Apple recently launched its revamped music offering giving all customers a free three-month trial period before charging £9.99 per month.

The offer will also be extended to those who have already bought one of Samsung's flagship devices as well as those purchasing smartphones like the Galaxy Note 4, the Galaxy S5 and Samsung's mid-range A-series of smartphones.

The offer will be available until 30 September, with a more limited three month offer available on all other Samsung phones and tablets until January 2016.

Google typically offers customers looking to test its streaming service just a single month's free trial.

Google Play Music subscribers have access to a catalogue of 30 million songs, which you can listen to ad-free. You can also download songs for offline listening and there are also special radio stations that only subscribers have access to - though unlike Apple's Beats One station, these are not manned by real DJs.

Battle for music lovers

Google launched a pre-emptive strike against Apple by announcing a free version of Play Music just days before the iPhone-maker launched Apple Music, which doesn't offer a free, ad-supported version.

The battle to win over music lovers is only just heating up, with Apple planning to launch its Android app for Apple Music in the coming months, which will be a direct competition with Google Music. The Samsung partnership shows that Google is looking to remain a relevant player in this market despite Apple's high profile launch.

Commenting on the partnership, Richard Wheeler from Google Play Music, said: "With more and more of us using our smartphones as a music device, we've partnered with Samsung to give music fans an easy way to store, download and stream music on a range of fantastic phones. Google Play Music's subscription has more than 30 million songs, as well as unlimited ad-free streaming and playlists to help you discover the perfect tracks to suit your mood, so music fans will never be stuck for what to listen to."

Google says research shows that in the UK, more than a third of people use their smartphones as their primary music device, listening for up to 15 hours a week.