Sony has recently added music to its cloud-based entertainment service called Qriocity. In an interesting strategic development, Sony will offer Qriocity on a variety of connected Sony devices from Bravia TVs to Android-based handsets. Originally, Qriocity had video and movie-based content upon launch in the United States in April of 2010. Strangely enough, the music portion of Qriocity will launch last in the United States with countries such as Ireland and the UK getting access first. I would tend to think this service’s US release will lag on similar to how Spotify’s US release has lagged.

What devices will be able to access this service?  Sony’s 2010 models of network-enabled Bravia TV, Blu-ray Disc player, Blu-ray Disc Home Theater system, PlayStation 3 as well as VAIO and other personal computers. Sony says that it will also eventually be usable on Sony’s portable devices, as well as Android-based mobile devices (possibly even those not made by Sony Ericsson). The availability on PlayStation 3 and Android-based mobile devices are the most exciting. The PS3 is turning into a one-stop shop for everything, and one of the current weaknesses is music. Qriocity would turn this weakness into a strength immediately. Also, the ability to access over six million tracks on the go via my Android phone is also encouraging. The main issue is that nothing in life is free.

There are two different cost structures for Qriocity. The first is around $5.49 monthly and gives users unlimited, ad-free forward skipping of the songs; access to a library of six million tracks, and “dozens of personalized channels” categorized by genre, era and even mood, using something Sony calls “SensMe,” a “proprietary 12-tone analysis technology used to evaluate music tracks”. The service not only scans what you are playing but what music is already on your devices, to help build up a profile of your tastes. “SenseMe” is a development with huge potential to expose users to new, underground artists that are below the radar. The second pricing level is Premium level (approx $11.49 monthly) and lets users also create playlists and access premium top-100 channels. Premium can also be trialled for free for 30 days. Initial reviews of the service have been positive with mentions of minor improvements.

Qriocity is focused on bringing your cloud based music to any location in your home or mobile device. With the list of competitors increasing, does it stand a chance of surviving? Leave us your throughts in the comments section.